The House of Representatives has intensified its investigation into the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), summoning the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to explain why an earlier alert regarding the council’s activities was allegedly ignored.
The invitation forms part of the ongoing probe into the alleged establishment and operations of the PFIPC, which lawmakers say functioned without legal backing while presenting itself as a federal government agency. The committee is seeking to determine how the council was able to engage with government institutions and foreign investors despite questions surrounding its legitimacy.
Chairman of the House Ad-hoc Committee, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, expressed concern over the failure of several Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to honour previous invitations issued by the panel. He described their absence as a serious challenge to the constitutional oversight powers of the National Assembly and insisted that no government institution is above legislative scrutiny...READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
The committee has also summoned the Minister of Foreign Affairs to provide clarification on the ministry’s interactions with the PFIPC after reports indicated that the council allegedly approached the ministry on multiple occasions seeking collaboration and endorsement for an international investment summit. Lawmakers want to establish whether warning signs were overlooked and whether adequate due diligence was carried out before any engagement with the organisation.
The House has issued what it described as a final notice to all defaulting agencies, directing their chief executives and accounting officers to appear personally before the committee with all relevant documents relating to the investigation. The lawmakers stressed that representatives or subordinate officials would not be accepted, insisting that only the heads of the affected institutions can provide the necessary explanations.
According to the committee, invitations issued by the House are backed by Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution, making compliance a legal obligation. It warned that any ministry, department or agency that fails to appear without lawful justification could face constitutional and statutory sanctions for obstructing the investigation.
The PFIPC controversy has continued to generate national attention following allegations that the organisation operated under the guise of a presidential initiative despite lacking formal legal recognition. Previous investigations have also raised questions about how the council allegedly gained access to official platforms and government processes before its activities came under scrutiny.
As the investigation gathers momentum, the House of Representatives says it remains committed to uncovering the full circumstances surrounding the alleged operations of the PFIPC. Lawmakers insist that the probe is aimed at strengthening transparency, protecting the integrity of public institutions and ensuring that no individual or organisation exploits the name of the Federal Government without lawful authority.
