The House of Representatives ad hoc committee probing the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) failed to sit on Wednesday, August 12, as previously scheduled, leaving the next steps of the investigation unclear.
The 12-member panel, chaired by Rep. Yusuf Gagdi, had adjourned its last public hearing to August 12 for further appearances by government agencies and stakeholders. No sitting took place, and neither the committee nor Gagdi issued an explanation or announced a new date by the time of this report.
The development comes as the inquiry approaches what lawmakers had described as a possible concluding phase before compiling findings and recommendations.
The PFIPC is alleged to have operated as a federal agency without legal establishment by law, executive order or any valid government instrument. It was listed in the 2026 Appropriation Act with an allocation of about ₦1.3 billion, prompting the House to set up the investigative committee.
The probe has since widened to cover claims of forged documents, acquisition of office space, use of government vehicle number plates, and efforts to secure recognition from ministries, departments and agencies.
The Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, told the committee his office processed a budget code based on a letter purportedly from the State House. He later confirmed the letter did not originate from the Presidency.
The panel said it had identified about 29 allegedly forged official documents linked to the State House, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of Finance.
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation Didi Esther Walson-Jack acknowledged that due diligence was inadequate in handling related documents. Gagdi described the purported appointment letter of the alleged Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi, as fake.
The State House has fully disowned the council. Director of Administration Abdulkadir Idris stated the Presidency neither created the body nor requested a budget code for it, and denied knowledge of any official named “Akande Adewale” said to have signed related correspondence.
The committee has been unable to question Adeyemi publicly. It earlier ordered the Inspector-General of Police to produce him within 48 hours, but police said he was held under a court order and could not be released without judicial approval. Lawmakers later decided to interview him privately to avoid interfering with ongoing criminal probes. Adeyemi’s lawyers have insisted he should be allowed to respond in public.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has submitted interim findings stating that Adeyemi was not appointed by any authorised federal body and that the PFIPC was not lawfully established. The commission said the appointment letter and other documents were forged, and that the purported council had appropriated the identity and structures of the former Presidential Economic Advisory Council.
ICPC found no evidence that federal funds were actually released to the body. It recommended Adeyemi’s prosecution, administrative sanctions against officials whose negligence enabled the scheme, and reforms to strengthen verification and internal controls in government institutions.
With the August 12 sitting aborted, attention now turns to when the committee will reconvene. The probe seeks to determine not only how the purported council emerged but also how it allegedly gained access to government facilities, entered the national budget and engaged public institutions without earlier detection. The core issue, investigators note, lies as much in institutional weaknesses as in the actions attributed to individuals.
A story of courage, wonder, and the transformative power of self-belief; perfect for readers aged 10+ who love adventure. To place order: +234 806 130 3237 | +234 803 582 0870 OR Tap the link to grab a copy:https://www.zeekapublish.com/product/the-magical-life-of-anna
