Abbas Inaugurates Panel To Probe Fake Agency Scandal Today

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, will today inaugurate an ad hoc committee to investigate the controversial inclusion of the unestablished Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council in the 2026 Appropriation Act.

This comes amid fresh criticism over the exclusion of the president’s chief of staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, from the list of invited witnesses.

The inauguration and public hearing will take place at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja, in line with Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which empower the National Assembly to investigate matters relating to the administration of public institutions and the management of public funds.

The committee, chaired by the member representing Kanke/Kanam/Pankshin Federal Constituency of Plateau State, Yusuf Gagdi, was constituted two weeks ago following a resolution of the House during plenary presided over by Speaker Abbas.

Its assignment is to investigate how budgetary provisions amounting to about N1.32bn were made in favour of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, an agency that had not been legally established.

The probe follows the arrest of Mr Adeyemi Adeniyi, who allegedly presented himself as the Director-General of the PFIPC and is accused of orchestrating the inclusion of the agency in the 2026 budget despite its non-existence.

The controversy deepened after Adeniyi reportedly claimed that he paid N100m through proxies to Gbajabiamila to facilitate the establishment of the agency.

The allegation has been denied by both the Presidency and the Office of the Chief of Staff.

A copy of the committee’s invitation, signed by Gagdi and obtained by The PUNCH, stated that the hearing would bring together key government officials, civil society organisations, professional bodies, development partners, the media and members of the public.

It read: “The ad hoc committee to investigate the Unestablished Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council in the Federal Budget Framework hereby invites Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Civil Society Organisations, professional bodies, development partners, the media, relevant stakeholders, and members of the general public to its inauguration and public hearing.

“The following stakeholders are invited to appear before the committee:

“Honourable Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Honourable Minister of Finance, Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs.”

Others listed included the “Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Executive Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Auditor-General for the Federation and Chairman, Fiscal Responsibility Commission.”

The invitation further listed the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, the Director-General of the Department of State Services and the Inspector-General of Police among those expected to appear before the committee.