The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs has debunked claims that it approved a request by the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) to host a World Investment Summit in Nigeria, distancing itself completely from the council’s activities.
This was disclosed by Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Umar Ahmed, on Tuesday while appearing before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the PFIPC controversy and the ₦1.3 billion allocation to the body in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
Ahmed, who represented the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed that the ministry received three separate requests from Adeniyi Adeyemi, who presented himself as the council’s director-general, seeking collaboration and endorsement for the proposed summit.
He said the requests, dated June 26, 2025, August 5, 2025, and June 5, 2026, were ignored after preliminary checks revealed discrepancies and raised concerns over the legitimacy of both the council and its promoter.
According to him, the ministry, guided by due diligence and extant regulations, declined to act on the requests and subsequently sought clarification from the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Ahmed said the response from ONSA, based on inquiries with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the office of the Chief of Staff to the President, confirmed that Adeyemi was unknown to any federal government office.
He stressed that the ministry had no official dealings with the PFIPC, noting that it did not participate in any diplomatic engagements, facilitate foreign investors, or sign any agreement on behalf of the council.
“The PFIPC did not facilitate or receive any foreign investors through the ministry, and no Nigerian mission abroad had any interaction with the council,” Ahmed said.
The PFIPC controversy has drawn national attention, with Femi Gbajabiamila denying any link to the council after allegations that he issued an appointment letter to Adeyemi.
The presidency has described the document as forged.
Adeyemi was arrested on July 14 in Osun State by police operatives, while the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has also questioned Gbajabiamila as part of its investigation.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Esther Walson-Jack, disclosed that the office space used by the PFIPC at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja was originally allocated to the OSGF.
The House committee is expected to continue its probe into the legality of the council and the circumstances surrounding the funds allocated to it.