By George Ozalla
The House of Representatives has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu, to produce the self-acclaimed Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), Prince Adeyemi Adeniyi, before its Ad Hoc Committee investigating the legality, funding and operations of the controversial organisation.
The order was handed down by the Chairman of the House Ad Hoc Committee, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, during the committee’s investigative session after Adeyemi failed to appear despite previous invitations and reports that he had earlier been arrested by the Nigeria Police following a bench warrant issued by a Federal High Court in Abuja.
Expressing displeasure over Adeyemi’s continued absence, Gagdi said the committee would not allow anyone to undermine the constitutional oversight powers of the National Assembly.
He directed the IGP to ensure that the alleged fake agency chief is produced before the committee within 48 hours, warning that the House would invoke all constitutional and legal measures available to enforce compliance if the directive was ignored.
The lawmaker also issued a similar 48-hour ultimatum to several Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that failed to honour the committee’s invitations, directing them to appear before the panel with all documents relating to their dealings with the organisation.
Gagdi said the committee was determined to unravel the circumstances surrounding the establishment and operations of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, which allegedly presented itself as a federal government agency without any legal foundation.
According to him, the investigation is aimed at determining how the organisation gained recognition in some government circles, whether any public institutions knowingly or unknowingly collaborated with it, and if public resources were committed to its activities.
He maintained that no individual or organisation should be allowed to operate under the guise of a government agency without an Act of the National Assembly or any lawful instrument establishing such a body.
The committee further stressed that legislative invitations are backed by Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), making it obligatory for individuals and public institutions to cooperate with investigations initiated by the National Assembly.
The probe into the PFIPC followed widespread concerns over the activities of the organisation after it allegedly held official engagements with some government agencies, state governments, diplomatic missions and private investors while presenting itself as a body linked to the Presidency.
The controversy deepened after investigations reportedly showed that no law establishing the council exists and that it was not listed among recognised federal government agencies. The discovery prompted the House of Representatives to set up an ad hoc committee to investigate how the organisation came into existence, the extent of its activities and those who may have facilitated its operations.
As part of its investigation, the committee has invited officials of key government institutions believed to have had dealings with the organisation in a bid to establish whether due diligence was carried out before recognising or engaging with it.
Lawmakers have expressed concern that the existence of unauthorised bodies masquerading as government agencies could expose investors to fraud, damage Nigeria’s international reputation and undermine public confidence in government institutions.
The committee assured Nigerians that it would conduct a thorough investigation and recommend appropriate sanctions against any individual or institution found to have violated the law, insisting that those responsible would be held accountable.
