FG Disowns PFIPC As House Summons Ribadu Over Security Response
Dr. Nafisat Makinde, Abuja
The House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee investigating the alleged establishment and operations of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) has summoned the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to explain the actions taken by his office after it was alerted to the activities of the unrecognised council.
The committee also directed the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, to appear before it as the investigation into the council’s legal status and operations continues.
The summons followed the appearance of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dunoma Umar Ahmed, who told lawmakers that the ministry neither recognised the PFIPC nor endorsed any of its activities.
Ahmed said the ministry received three separate requests from the organisation seeking collaboration and endorsement for a proposed World Investment Summit in Nigeria. He said the requests were declined after due diligence revealed discrepancies in the documents submitted by the group’s promoter, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew.
According to the Permanent Secretary, the ministry subsequently wrote to the Office of the National Security Adviser to verify the status of the organisation. In its response, the office indicated that enquiries with relevant government institutions showed that the PFIPC was not recognised by the Federal Government.
Chairman of the committee, Rep. Yusuf Gagdi, said the panel was concerned that despite the information available to security authorities, questions remained over the actions taken after the council was identified as an unrecognised entity.
He said Ribadu’s appearance before the committee would enable lawmakers to determine whether appropriate measures were taken to prevent the organisation from continuing its activities.
The committee also expressed dissatisfaction with the absence of some Ministries, Departments and Agencies invited to the hearing, warning that continued failure to honour its summons could attract constitutional sanctions.
The House panel is investigating the circumstances surrounding the alleged establishment of the PFIPC, how it engaged public institutions despite lacking legal backing, and its inclusion in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
The committee said its investigation would continue in line with its constitutional oversight responsibilities and pledged to establish the facts through a fair and transparent process.