​Deepening Controversy: House of Reps Panel Faces Fierce Backlash Over 'Fake Agency' Probe

​As the House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) prepares to lay its final report before plenary, the panel finds itself at the center of a political storm.

​Civil society groups, public affairs analysts, and fellow lawmakers have raised critical concerns regarding the thoroughness, independence, and procedural fairness of the probe led by Plateau lawmaker Yusuf Gagdi.

Procedural Faults: The Complainant as Judge

​A major point of contention within the National Assembly is the appointment of Yusuf Gagdi as the chairman of the investigating committee.

​One lawmaker, speaking anonymously, questioned the convention of allowing the sponsor of a motion to lead its subsequent investigation:

​"Where have you seen this before that the member who brought an issue for investigation will be made the chair of the committee set up to probe the issues raised in that motion? It is definitely not a convention."

​Critics also pointed out that the panel dismissed conflicting signatures on appointment letters without formal handwriting analysis, noting that high-profile figures frequently maintain subtle signature variations across official documents.

​Key Gaps and Unanswered Questions

​Civil society organisations, led by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), have expressed strong dissatisfaction with the depth of the inquiry, citing critical areas left unexamined:

​Failure to Question Key Figures: The committee did not summon the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, despite public calls for clarification over allegations made by self-acclaimed PFIPC Director General, Adeyemi Adeniyi.

​The Untraced ₦400m: Legal representatives of Adeyemi alleged that ₦400m was passed through a proxy, the late Dolapo Tanimola. However, financial trails including bank statements and phone records were not thoroughly audited.

​Unclear Circumstances of a Key Death: Tanimola reportedly died in a fire incident at Kachi Hotel, Utako, Abuja a venue that was subsequently demolished, leaving CCTV records unretrievable. CISLAC stressed that the police were not rigorously questioned regarding forensic reports or coroner inquiries surrounding his death.

​Denial of Fair Hearing: Adeyemi's legal counsel, Festus Akhigbe, publicly challenged the committee to grant his client administrative clearance to testify in person, warning that any report generated without hearing from him would violate constitutional rights to a fair hearing.

​Systemic Failure Beyond a "Fake Document"

​While the committee’s preliminary findings lean toward declaring the PFIPC's creation letter forged, executive director of CISLAC, Ibrahim Rafsanjani, emphasized that forgery alone cannot explain how a non-existent council secured access across multiple government channels:

​"Forgery may explain the initial entry point, but it cannot by itself explain failures across several government institutions. The committee must avoid presenting the forgery finding as a complete explanation of the scandal."

​During its three-week sitting, the 12-man panel questioned several high-ranking officials, including:

​Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation

​Hamisu Abdullahi, Head of Banking Services at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)

​Tanimu Yakubu, Director General of the Budget Office of the Federation

​What Lies Ahead

​With public pressure mounting, stakeholders are urging the House leadership to extend the committee’s mandate rather than rush to meet an administrative deadline. Critics argue that without tracing the money trail, summoning all implicated principal actors, and conducting a full audit, the final report risks leaving significant gaps in public accountability.