The House of Representatives has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to ministries, departments and agencies accused of frustrating its investigation into the alleged Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).
The House Ad-hoc Committee, chaired by Yusuf Gagdi, warned on Tuesday that any agency that fails to appear before it on Thursday with the requested officials and documents could face constitutional sanctions.
Gagdi said invitations issued by the National Assembly are legally binding under Sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution, stressing that the investigation is aimed at establishing the legal status, funding and operations of the controversial council.
The committee also insisted that Minister of Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu personally appear before it, despite the ministry sending a representative to Tuesday's hearing.
During the hearing, officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria told lawmakers that accounts linked to the alleged agency were opened on the directive of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation but had zero balances and recorded no financial transactions.
Meanwhile, human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) confirmed he had withdrawn as counsel to the alleged Director-General of the council, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, but did not give a reason.
The investigation follows allegations that the PFIPC operated as a government agency despite questions over its legal status.
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