Abuja – The House of Representatives has summoned the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the National Security Adviser (NSA) to appear before its ad hoc committee investigating the activities of the alleged fake Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).
The committee, chaired by Rep. Yusuf Gagdi, issued the summons during an investigative hearing at the National Assembly on Tuesday.
Gagdi expressed concern over the existence and operations of the purported agency, describing its engagement with foreign embassies as an embarrassment to Nigeria’s international image.
He directed the Minister of Foreign Affairs to appear before the committee on Thursday, July 23, while also requesting the National Security Adviser to explain the actions taken after receiving official notification that the agency was fraudulent.
According to Gagdi, the committee seeks to determine how the fake organisation operated and whether adequate steps were taken by relevant government institutions to prevent its activities.
Appearing before the committee, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dunoma Ahmed, explained that the ministry received letters from the organisation requesting diplomatic engagement.
He said the ministry investigated the requests, confirmed that the agency was not a legitimate government body, and subsequently informed the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Meanwhile, the alleged mastermind behind the fake agency, Adeyemi Matthew, who reportedly presented himself as the Director-General of the PFIPC, has been arrested and is currently in custody in Osun State.
His arrest followed a warrant issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja after he failed to appear to answer charges of forgery and impersonation filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The controversy surrounding the fake investment agency has attracted nationwide attention since President Bola Tinubu ordered a full investigation into its operations.
The House committee is expected to continue its probe when the invited officials appear later this week to provide further clarification on the matter.
