Reps panel continues PFIPC probe, summons Accountant-General

At the centre of the investigation is how the purported agency secured a budgetary allocation of over ₦1.32 billion in the 2026 fiscal year and reportedly gained access to

By Mmesoma Onwuka

The House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee investigating the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) is set to continue its public hearing today with the appearance of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi.

The committee, chaired by Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, is probing the circumstances surrounding the inclusion of the PFIPC in the 2026 Appropriation Act despite repeated claims by the Federal Government that the council was never legally established.

At the centre of the investigation is how the purported agency secured a budgetary allocation of over ₦1.32 billion in the 2026 fiscal year and reportedly gained access to government facilities without any legal backing.

Lawmakers are seeking clarification on the administrative and financial processes that enabled the council to receive official recognition within the federal budget, describing the development as a serious concern for transparency and public accountability.

Since the commencement of the investigation, the committee has taken testimonies from several high-ranking government officials, including the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, the Director-General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu, and representatives of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The inquiry followed the arrest of Adeyemi Adeniyi, who allegedly impersonated the Director-General of the PFIPC and reportedly claimed that his appointment had the backing of senior government officials.

However, both the Presidency and the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President have denied any involvement with the council, maintaining that the PFIPC is not a legally recognised agency of the Federal Government.

The committee is also investigating how the council allegedly obtained office accommodation, processed official documents and found its way into the federal budget despite lacking legal status.

The appearance of the Accountant-General is expected to provide further insight into the financial processes that led to the controversial budgetary allocation and whether due diligence was observed before public funds were earmarked for the council.

The panel is expected to invite additional senior government officials as the investigation progresses to determine whether administrative lapses, negligence or deliberate misconduct facilitated the emergence and operations of the PFIPC.

Members of the committee have reiterated their commitment to conducting a thorough and transparent investigation, stressing that anyone found culpable would be held accountable in accordance with the law, while measures would be recommended to prevent similar occurrences in the future.