By Taiwo Scholarstica
The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs has revealed that it turned down several requests from the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).
Appearing before the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee investigating the legality, operations and activities of the PFIPC, the Minjstry revealed that it has never had any official dealings with its alleged Director-General, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi.
Addressing the lawmakers, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dunoma Ahmed, who represented the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, said the ministry turned down several requests from the organisation after conducting checks that raised concerns about its authenticity.
The committee is chaired by the member representing Kanam/Kanke/Pankshin Federal Constituency of Plateau State, Yusuf Gagdi.
Ahmed told the committee that Adeyemi, who reportedly presented himself as the Director-General of both the Presidential Economic Advisory Council and the PFIPC, wrote to the ministry on three separate occasions.
According to him, the letters, dated June 26, 2025, August 5, 2025, and June 5, 2026, sought the ministry’s cooperation and endorsement for the proposed organisation of a World Investment Summit in Nigeria.
He said the ministry rejected the requests after discovering inconsistencies in the letters and questioning the legitimacy of the council and its purported leadership.
The Permanent Secretary said the ministry later contacted the Office of the National Security Adviser on October 16, 2025, seeking clarification on the status of Adeyemi and the PFIPC.
He said the ONSA replied on November 26, 2025, stating that checks conducted through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President showed that Adeyemi was not known to the Federal Government.
Ahmed also disclosed that the ministry had never been involved in any bilateral or multilateral engagement involving the PFIPC.
He said the ministry did not arrange meetings between the council and foreign governments, investors or international partners.
He further stated that no Memorandum of Understanding, treaty or investment agreement had been executed through the PFIPC.
According to him, Nigerian diplomatic missions abroad also had no dealings with the organisation, as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs never recognised or authorised its operations.
“The ministry has no official records relating to the PFIPC. We have never recognised, collaborated with or engaged the council or its alleged Director-General in any official capacity,” he said.
Reacting to the submission, the Chairman of the committee, Yusuf Gagdi, expressed concern over the actions taken by security agencies after the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) reportedly confirmed in November 2025 that the PFIPC was not a recognised government institution.
Gagdi said the committee must establish whether relevant authorities took necessary steps to stop the organisation from continuing its activities.
The committee consequently summoned the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to appear before it on Thursday by 12 noon to explain the steps taken by his office after the PFIPC was found not to be a recognised Federal Government institution.
The panel also directed the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, to appear personally before the committee and provide further clarification on issues raised during the hearing.
Gagdi said the committee also wanted to know whether ONSA acted on the information provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He said, “It is now the duty of the committee to move further and invite the Office of the National Security Adviser to come and answer the very important question raised by Honourable Abubakar Fulata that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs received a letter from this agency under investigation, whether it exists or it doesn’t exist.”
“What have you done as an office that has the power and capacity to carry out further investigation in respect of this matter? He is to appear before this committee because the Ministry of Foreign Affairs received correspondence from the suspended Director-General and suspected foul play and discrepancies.”
“The NSA responded that it is an illegal agency. What has the Office of the National Security Adviser done as a security institution after that discovery? If they discovered that the agency does not exist, then appropriate action ought to have been taken. They should come before this committee and explain the actions they have taken.”
The House of Representatives had earlier set up the ad-hoc committee to investigate the PFIPC following allegations that individuals operating under the council’s name presented themselves as representatives of the presidency while engaging prospective investors, despite concerns about its legal status.
The committee’s investigation is expected to establish whether public officials or government institutions supported or facilitated the organisation’s activities and recommend appropriate legislative or legal measures based on its findings.