The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday distanced itself from the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), telling the House of Representatives that it had no official relationship with the organisation and never facilitated any treaty, investor engagement or diplomatic activity on its behalf.
Appearing before the House Ad-Hoc Committee investigating the alleged unlawful establishment and operations of the PFIPC, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Ambassador Dr. Dunoma Umar Ahmed, who represented the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, said the ministry neither recognised the council nor its alleged Director-General, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, in any official capacity.
Ahmed disclosed that the ministry’s only contact with the organisation came through three letters sent by Adeyemi in 2025 and 2026 seeking government endorsement for a proposed World Investment Summit in Nigeria.
He said all the requests were rejected after due diligence exposed inconsistencies and raised concerns over the legitimacy of the council and its leadership.
According to him, the ministry subsequently sought clarification from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), which responded that checks 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 the Federal Government.
The Permanent Secretary stressed that the ministry never participated in any bilateral or multilateral engagement involving the PFIPC, nor did it negotiate or execute any Memorandum of Understanding, treaty or investment agreement through the organisation.
He added that no Nigerian mission abroad was instructed to recognise or engage with the council.
Following the ministry’s testimony, the committee summoned the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to explain the steps taken after his office confirmed that the PFIPC lacked government recognition.
The panel also directed the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, to appear before it when the hearing resumes on Thursday for further clarification as investigations into the alleged fake presidential investment body continue.
