The House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the alleged establishment of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) without legal backing has summoned the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the National Security Adviser (NSA) to explain how the council allegedly operated despite concerns over its legitimacy.
The decision followed the presentation of a memorandum by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dunoma Umar Ahmed, who told the committee that the ministry had no official relationship with the council and had sought clarification from the Office of the National Security Adviser after identifying irregularities in its correspondence.
Appearing before the committee on Tuesday, Ahmed submitted a letter dated July 21, 2026, disclosing that Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, who identified himself as Director-General of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PEAC/PFIPC), approached the ministry on three occasions seeking its endorsement and collaboration to organise a World Investment Summit in Nigeria.
According to him, the requests were received on June 26, 2025, August 5, 2025, and June 5, 2026, but the ministry declined to act on them.
He explained that the ministry exercised due diligence in line with established procedures and withheld approval because of inconsistencies in the correspondence as well as ongoing concerns over the legitimacy of the PFIPC and its purported director-general.
The permanent secretary further revealed that the ministry wrote to the Office of the National Security Adviser on October 16, 2025, requesting clarification on Prince Adeyemi’s status.
He said the NSA responded on November 26, 2025, stating that enquiries with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President confirmed that Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew was unknown to any office of the Federal Government.
Ahmed also told the committee that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had never participated in any diplomatic engagement organised by the PFIPC and had no official interaction with either the council or its alleged director-general.
During the hearing, committee member Abubakar Hassan Fulata questioned why the ministry failed to take stronger action after receiving confirmation that the council lacked legal recognition.
He asked whether the ministry formally informed the purported director-general that the organisation was illegal and should no longer engage with the ministry.
Responding, the committee chairman said the ministry had acted appropriately by referring the matter to the National Security Adviser but insisted that the NSA must now explain the actions taken after confirming the council had no legal status.
According to him, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had reported the matter after detecting irregularities, it remained unclear what steps the nation’s security office took after determining that the agency was illegal.
Lawmakers also raised concerns over reports that the alleged council had organised investment-related events attended by foreign diplomats despite the ministry’s position that it had no dealings with the organisation.
The committee described the situation as evidence of poor coordination among government institutions.
The chairman noted that it was troubling for an organisation allegedly lacking legal recognition to obtain official documents, interact with government agencies and conduct diplomatic engagements involving foreign missions.
He described the development as a serious embarrassment to the country and questioned how a purportedly illegal organisation was able to operate so openly.
Responding on behalf of the ministry, Ahmed acknowledged that some organisations occasionally bypass official diplomatic channels by dealing directly with foreign missions without the ministry’s knowledge.
He said the ministry regularly issues circulars reminding organisations of the need to follow established diplomatic procedures.
While commending the ministry for its cooperation, the committee said the investigation remained ongoing.
The chairman said the information provided by the ministry would assist the inquiry but reminded members that the Minister of Foreign Affairs had been directed to appear before the committee on Thursday.
He also instructed the committee secretariat to invite the National Security Adviser to answer questions arising from the ministry’s testimony.
