Morganable politics/Legislative Affairs
Chairman of the committee, Yusuf Gagdi, said the refusal of certain MDAs to honour invitations amounted to a direct challenge to the constitutional powers of the legislature
kaNo —
The controversy surrounding the alleged Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) escalated on Tuesday as the House of Representatives intensified its investigation, issuing a 48-hour ultimatum to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) accused of frustrating its probe.
The lawmakers warned that failure to comply with the directive would attract sanctions, as the National Assembly moved to assert its constitutional oversight authority and unravel the circumstances surrounding the emergence of the disputed agency.
Chairman of the committee, Yusuf Gagdi, said the refusal of certain MDAs to honour invitations amounted to a direct challenge to the constitutional powers of the legislature.
“The committee views this conduct as a serious affront to the constitutional oversight powers of the House of Representatives and an unacceptable disregard for the authority of the parliament, which represents the sovereign will of the Nigerian people,” Gagdi said
The investigation was launched following allegations that the PFIPC operated as a government agency despite uncertainty over its legal status, raising questions about how it appeared in official records and whether any public institutions facilitated its activities.
Investigation Committees Backed By Constitution-Rep
Gagdi stressed that invitations issued by committees of the House are backed by the Constitution and must be treated as legally binding obligations, not optional requests.
“They are issued pursuant to the constitutional powers vested in the National Assembly under Sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). Compliance is therefore a legal obligation, not an act of courtesy.”he added
He directed all defaulting MDAs to appear before the committee on Thursday with all relevant officials and documents previously requested, describing the deadline as their final opportunity to comply voluntarily.
“Thursday is the final opportunity for every defaulting agency to comply voluntarily with the lawful directives of this Committee,” he said.
“Any ministry, department or agency that fails to appear without lawful justification will leave the committee with no alternative but to invoke every constitutional and statutory power available to the House of Representatives to compel compliance and ensure accountability,” Gagdi added.
Committee Threaten Legal Action
“The Committee will not hesitate to recommend and pursue every sanction permitted by law against any person or institution that deliberately obstructs or frustrates this investigation.”
The development comes amid fresh twists in the unfolding scandal, including the insistence that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, personally appear before the committee despite her ministry sending a representative to an earlier session.
The probe also recorded another significant development with the withdrawal of prominent lawyer, Femi Falana, from representing the alleged Director-General of the council, Adeniyi Adeyemi.
Although no official reason was given for the withdrawal, the move has added another layer of intrigue to the ongoing investigation.
Gagdi, however, emphasised that the probe was not targeted at any individual or institution but aimed at establishing the truth and safeguarding the integrity of public administration.
“This investigation is in the national interest,” he said. “It is not targeted at any individual or institution but is aimed at establishing the facts, protecting the integrity of public administration, safeguarding the rule of law, and ensuring that no public office or institution operates outside the framework of the Constitution.”
The committee reaffirmed its commitment to conducting a thorough, impartial, and professional investigation, noting that no agency would be allowed to undermine its work.
“No agency of government, regardless of its status or perceived influence, will be permitted to undermine the constitutional authority of the House of Representatives or frustrate the discharge of its legislative responsibilities,” Gagdi said.
At previous hearings, the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs had distanced itself from the PFIPC, telling lawmakers that it neither recognised the council nor had any official dealings with its alleged leadership.
The ministry also disclosed that the Office of the National Security Adviser had indicated that both the council and its alleged Director-General were unknown to the Federal Government, raising further concerns about how the organisation operated and gained apparent recognition.
In another key revelation, officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria informed the committee that bank accounts reportedly linked to the agency were opened on the directive of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
No Transaction Recorded In Accounts
However, the officials clarified that the accounts had zero balances and recorded no financial transactions, suggesting that no public funds had been directly processed through them.
The disclosure formed part of the committee’s broader effort to determine whether any government resources were channelled through the agency and to identify potential breaches of financial regulations.
The committee has also received submissions from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Office of the Accountant-General, among other institutions, as it seeks to piece together the chain of events that led to the agency’s appearance in official government records.
Lawmakers are particularly interested in understanding the processes through which the PFIPC allegedly secured recognition in certain documents despite the absence of clear legal backing for its establishment.
The investigation has further examined claims made by Adeyemi against senior government officials, as well as the circumstances surrounding the opening of bank accounts in the name of the council.
Observers say the outcome of the probe could have far-reaching implications for governance and accountability in Nigeria, especially in relation to the creation and recognition of public institutions.
The House committee is expected to determine whether any individuals or agencies acted outside the law in facilitating the activities of the PFIPC and to recommend appropriate legislative or legal actions.
As the 48-hour ultimatum expires, attention is now focused on whether the affected MDAs will comply with the directive or face the consequences outlined by the lawmakers.
