PFIPC Probe: Foreign Affairs Ministry Disowns Council,  Say DG Unknown to FG

…Reps Invites ONSA, Insist Foreign Affairs Minister Must Appear

The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs has distanced itself from the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), declaring that it never had any official dealings with the council or its alleged Director-General, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, whose identity was confirmed by security authorities as being unknown to the Federal Government.

The disclosure was made on Tuesday by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Ambassador Dr. Dunoma Umar Ahmed, while representing the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, before the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee investigating the unestablished Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), chaired by Hon. Yusuf Gagdi.

Presenting the Ministry’s position, Ambassador Ahmed disclosed that Prince Adeyemi, who described himself as the Director-General of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC) and the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), approached the Ministry on three separate occasions June 26, 2025, August 5, 2025, and June 5, 2026 seeking the Ministry’s collaboration and endorsement to host a World Investment Summit in Nigeria.

He explained that the Ministry declined all three requests after carrying out due diligence, citing inconsistencies and discrepancies in the correspondence submitted by the self-acclaimed Director-General, as well as concerns over the legitimacy of both the council and its purported leadership.

According to the Permanent Secretary, the Ministry subsequently wrote to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) on October 16, 2025, requesting clarification on the status of Prince Adeyemi as Director-General of the PFIPC.

He informed the committee that the Office of the National Security Adviser replied on November 26, 2025, conveying that enquiries made with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) and the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President established that Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi was unknown to any office of the Federal Government.

The Permanent Secretary further told lawmakers that the Ministry never participated in any diplomatic engagement, bilateral or multilateral discussions involving the PFIPC, nor did it facilitate any foreign investors, international partners or delegations on behalf of the council.

He added that no Memorandum of Understanding, treaty or investment agreement was signed with any foreign government through the PFIPC, while no Nigerian mission abroad had any interaction with the council because the Ministry never issued any directive recognising its activities.

According to him, apart from the correspondence already submitted to the committee, the Ministry has no official records relating to the PFIPC.

He maintained that the Ministry had never recognised, collaborated with or engaged the PFIPC or its alleged Director-General in any official capacity.

Reacting, Chairman of the Ad-Hoc Committee, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, expressed concern over the revelation that the Office of the National Security Adviser had established as far back as November 2025 that the alleged Director-General and the purported council were not recognised by the Federal Government.

He questioned the steps taken by the nation’s security architecture after the discovery and stressed that the committee was duty-bound to ascertain whether appropriate action was taken to prevent the activities of the organisation.

Consequently, the committee invited the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to appear before it on Thursday at 12:00 noon to explain the actions taken by his office after confirming that the PFIPC was not a recognised government institution.

The committee also insisted that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, must personally appear before the panel to provide further clarification on issues arising from the Ministry’s submissions.

Explaining the rationale for the summons, Gagdi said the committee needed to determine what actions the Office of the National Security Adviser took after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs raised concerns over the authenticity of the organisation.

“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.”