Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
The House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the operations of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) is set to question the Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, today as lawmakers intensify efforts to unravel how the organisation secured a place in the 2026 federal budget despite questions over its legal status.
The committee, chaired by Yusuf Gagdi, is examining the circumstances that allowed the council to obtain office accommodation within the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja and allocated more than ₦1.32 billion in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
Lawmakers are expected to seek clarification from Ogunjimi on how the PFIPC obtained a government budget code, a process that enabled it to appear in the national budget and access official financial channels.
The probe has entered its third week and has attracted widespread attention over concerns about possible weaknesses in public financial management and administrative oversight.
Several senior government officials have already appeared before the panel, including the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, the Director of Banking Services at the Central Bank of Nigeria, Abdullahi Hamisu, and the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Tanimu Yakubu.
According to the committee, testimonies received so far have focused on how the council was able to obtain official documentation and become integrated into parts of the federal administrative system despite concerns over its legitimacy.
The investigation gained further prominence following the arrest of Adeyemi Adeniyi, who allegedly presented himself as the Director-General of the PFIPC.
Adeniyi was arrested by police operatives after allegedly claiming that he paid ₦400 million through an intermediary to the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, to facilitate his appointment as head of the council.
However, the Presidency and Gbajabiamila have denied any connection to Adeniyi or the allegations.
Government officials have also maintained that the PFIPC is not a legally established federal agency.
The committee is expected to determine whether administrative lapses, institutional negligence or misconduct contributed to the council’s emergence and operations within government structures.
Other officials expected to appear before the panel include the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, and Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi.
Lawmakers have said the investigation is aimed at strengthening public institutions, safeguarding public funds and identifying gaps in government systems that allowed the controversy surrounding the PFIPC to emerge.
