Critical bureaucratic vulnerabilities within Nigeria's federal administration were exposed during a House of Representatives public hearing on Monday, as key government institutions testified regarding the operations of the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).

The hearing, conducted by an ad-hoc committee chaired by Representative Yusuf Gagdi and inaugurated by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, was convened to investigate the legitimacy and administrative reach of the fictitious body.

Central Bank Mandate and Account Status

During the proceedings, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) confirmed that it opened two foreign-currency domiciliary accounts—one in US dollars and the other in British pounds sterling—under the name of the council following an official directive from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation in late July 2025.

Represented by Hamisu Ibrahim, Director of the Banking Services Department, the apex bank detailed its verification protocol, clarifying that account authorization relies strictly on valid mandates issued by the Accountant-General's office. Ibrahim emphasized that the accounts were never activated by designated officials, recorded zero financial transactions, and remained entirely dormant with no capital inflows, outflows, or foreign exchange allocations.

This testimony directly contradicted prior statements made by Accountant-General Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, who had previously maintained that no accounts had been established for the entity.

Civil Service Oversight and Manpower Authorizations

Further testimony provided by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, clarified that no official premises at the Federal Secretariat had ever been granted to the council. She stated that space reportedly used by the group actually forms part of the allocation assigned to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).

However, Walson-Jack disclosed that during the 2025 annual manpower budget exercise, documentation submitted on behalf of the council resulted in the approval of an established structure for 314 positions, followed shortly by a recruitment waiver. She noted that her office did not deploy personnel, approve final recruitments, or maintain operational oversight, adding that key individuals involved in submitting the documentation have since been referred to law enforcement authorities.

Following these disclosures, Committee Chairman Gagdi summoned several high-ranking cabinet officials and heads of federal agencies—including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Attorney-General, and the Minister of Finance—to provide further evidence.

       SUMMARY OF KEY AGENCY TESTIMONIES BEFORE THE HOUSE COMMITTEE
┌───────────────────────────────┬────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Government Agency             │ Key Testimony Highlights                               │
├───────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) │ • Opened dollar and pound domiciliary accounts.        │
│                               │ • Acted on Accountant-General's official mandate.      │
│                               │ • Accounts remained inactive with zero balance.        │
├───────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Head of Civil Service         │ • Never allocated official office space to PFIPC.      │
│                               │ • Processing occurred via submitted documentation.     │
│                               │ • Approved 314 positions; no staff deployed.           │
└───────────────────────────────┴────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Chief of Staff Appears Before Anti-Graft Panel

Concurrently, Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, voluntarily appeared at the headquarters of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in Abuja to offer testimony. The visit aligns with a presidential directive ordering a thorough anti-corruption probe into the council's activities.

Legal representatives for Gbajabiamila confirmed that his appearance was intended to assist investigators with factual clarifications regarding the agency's origins and claims surrounding its operations.

In a parallel legal development, the Chief of Staff initiated multi-billion naira civil suit proceedings regarding recent public claims made by key figures linked to the agency. The litigation refutes assertions that financial inducements were sought or processed to facilitate administrative approvals or budgetary inclusions.

Political Debate and Legal Next Steps

The ongoing disclosures have generated significant discourse among public stakeholders and political organizations, with several calling for complete transparency and administrative suspensions pending the conclusion of all official inquiries.

Primary figures connected to the agency’s establishment are expected to appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja as scheduled legal proceedings continue.