By Cross Udo, Abuja
The House of Representatives on Monday launched a parallel investigation into the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).
This came as the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, appeared before the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over the activities of the alleged fake agency.
Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, inaugurated an ad hoc committee to investigate the legal basis for the establishment of the council, its operations, funding, governance structure and how it found its way into the 2026 Federal Budget despite questions over its existence.
The House’s intervention comes amid ongoing investigations by the ICPC and the Nigeria Police Force into the controversial council.
*Chief of Staff confirms honouring anti-graft agency’s invitation
Confirming Gbajabiamila’s appearance before the ICPC, Principal Counsel of Jiti Ogunye Chambers, Mr Jiti Ogunye, said the Chief of Staff honoured the anti-graft agency’s invitation in compliance with President Bola Tinubu’s directive.
“In full cooperation with the ICPC and acting as directed by the President of Nigeria, I hereby confirm that my client, Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President of Nigeria, responded to the invitation of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and appeared… as part of the ongoing investigation into the activities of the ‘PFIPC’ fake agency, among others,” Ogunye said.
He said Gbajabiamila gave his testimony, answered questions from investigators and returned to his official duties.
“My client gave his testimony, responded to questions accordingly, and has returned to his duty post,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Presidency said the Chief of Staff’s appearance before the ICPC followed President Tinubu’s directive ordering a comprehensive investigation into the alleged fake agency.
The President directed the anti-graft agency to investigate the alleged forged appointment letters, fake government documents, opening of bank accounts in the names of the purported council, and the alleged use of false claims of presidential appointment to obtain official recognition and diplomatic support.
Tinubu also ordered the commission to investigate the roles of individuals, financial institutions and other entities that may have facilitated the alleged scheme.
The President further directed the ICPC to identify weaknesses in government procedures that enabled the alleged fraud and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence.
All ministries, departments and agencies were instructed to provide relevant records and other assistance to enable the commission to conclude its investigation within 30 days.
The Presidency also maintained that the alleged Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council was never established by the Federal Government and had no basis in law, presidential instrument, executive approval or any other lawful act of government.
Backing the Presidency’s position, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said police forensic analysis had already established that the signature attributed to Gbajabiamila on the disputed appointment letter was forged.
“The police have investigated this man. They have done forensic analysis of the Chief of Staff’s signature. The case has already been filed at the Federal Court. And I am telling you that before the police filed the case, they had already done their own forensic analysis and found that the signature was forged. They found out that all the documents he was parading were fake,” Onanuga said.
*Lawmakers question legality, budget entry, mandate
Meanwhile, inaugurating the House committee in Abuja, Abbas said Parliament had a constitutional responsibility to establish the facts surrounding the controversial council amid growing public concern.
He noted that questions over the council’s legal status, institutional mandate, operational framework, relationship with existing agencies and its inclusion in the Federal Budget required clear and authoritative answers.
“These questions deserve clear, factual and authoritative answers. The House of Representatives has therefore not constituted this committee to validate speculation or amplify controversy. Our objective is to establish the facts,” the Speaker said.
Abbas stressed that the investigation was neither politically motivated nor targeted at individuals.
“The inquiry is not about personalities but about institutions and the integrity of public administration,” he said.
He directed the committee to determine whether there was any legal basis for establishing the PFIPC and investigate whether due constitutional and statutory procedures were followed in its creation.
The panel is also expected to scrutinise the council’s mandate, powers, governance structure, funding sources and relationship with existing agencies responsible for investment promotion and public finance.
It is further mandated to investigate how the council found its way into the Federal Budget, identify approvals granted for its funding and determine whether due process was followed.
The committee will equally assess whether the council duplicated the statutory functions of existing government institutions and recommend legislative or administrative reforms to strengthen transparency, eliminate ambiguity, prevent duplication of functions and safeguard public resources.
“This House expects the truth, not rehearsed scripts or defensive posturing. Nigerians deserve candour. They deserve explanations that withstand scrutiny. They deserve to know, with absolute certainty that their public institutions operate within the law,” Abbas said.
Chairman of the ad hoc committee, Rep. Yusuf Gagdi (APC, Plateau), assured Nigerians that the panel would conduct a thorough, transparent and impartial investigation.
He said the assignment underscored the House’s determination to ensure that public institutions operate strictly within the law and remain accountable to the Nigerian people.
