FEATURES
Reps Summon Foreign Affairs Minister, NSA Over Alleged Illegal Presidential Investment Council
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 summons followed testimony by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dunoma Umar Ahmed, who told the committee that the ministry had no official relationship with the PFIPC and had instead alerted the Office of the National Security Adviser after identifying irregularities in the council’s correspondence.
Appearing before the committee on Tuesday with a letter dated July 21, 2026, Ahmed disclosed 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 collaboration and endorsement to organise a World Investment Summit in Nigeria.
According to the ministry, the requests were submitted on June 26, 2025, August 5, 2025, and June 5, 2026, but were declined pending due diligence.
The ministry stated that it refrained from acting on the requests in line with established regulations and because of discrepancies observed in the documents submitted by Adeyemi, as well as ongoing concerns regarding the legitimacy of both the council and its purported Director-General.
It further revealed that on October 16, 2025, it formally requested the Office of the National Security Adviser to verify Adeyemi’s status.
In its response dated November 26, 2025, the NSA informed the ministry that inquiries with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) 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.
The ministry also told lawmakers that it had never participated in any diplomatic engagement, bilateral or multilateral discussion organised by the PFIPC and had no official interaction with the council or its alleged Director-General.
During the hearing, committee member Hassan Fulata questioned why stronger measures were not taken after the ministry received confirmation that the council lacked legal recognition.
Responding, the committee chairman defended the ministry’s decision to refer the matter to the NSA but insisted that the security office must now explain the actions it took after confirming that the council was not recognised by the Federal Government.
He said the Office of the National Security Adviser should appear before the committee to account for the steps taken after establishing that the agency was operating illegally.
Lawmakers also raised concerns over reports that the alleged council successfully organised events attended by more than 30 foreign embassies despite the Ministry of Foreign Affairs having no official dealings with it.
The committee described the development as evidence of serious coordination failures within government institutions.
According to the chairman, it was unacceptable for an allegedly unauthorised organisation to secure approvals, engage foreign diplomats and conduct activities ordinarily reserved for recognised government institutions.
He warned that such actions undermined Nigeria’s diplomatic processes and public confidence in government institutions.
Responding on behalf of the ministry, Ahmed acknowledged that some organisations occasionally bypass official diplomatic channels by dealing directly with foreign missions.
He said the ministry regularly issues circulars reminding diplomatic missions and organisations to follow established communication procedures.
Vanguard report that while commending the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its cooperation, the committee said its investigation remained ongoing.
The panel directed the Minister of Foreign Affairs to appear before it on Thursday and also ordered that the National Security Adviser be invited to answer questions arising from the ministry’s testimony.