Chief of Staff cooperates with investigators as anti-graft agency intensifies probe into controversial council that secured a ₦1.3 billion 2026 budget allocation
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Monday questioned Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, over his alleged connection to the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), marking a significant development in the expanding investigation into the purported government agency.
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Gbajabiamila appeared at the ICPC headquarters in Abuja after receiving an invitation from the anti-graft agency and later returned to his official duties following the session, according to his legal counsel, Jiti Ogunye.
Confirming the appearance, Ogunye said the presidential aide cooperated fully with investigators in line with President Tinubu’s directive for a comprehensive probe into the PFIPC controversy.
“In full cooperation with the ICPC acting as directed by the President of Nigeria, I hereby confirm that my client, Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President of Nigeria, responded to the invitation of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and appeared at about 15:00hrs on Monday, July 20, 2026, as part of the ongoing investigation into the activities of the ‘PFIPC’ fake agency, among others,” Ogunye said.
He added: “My client gave his testimony, responded to questions accordingly, and has returned to his duty post.”
The questioning comes weeks after President Bola Tinubu directed the ICPC to conduct a thorough investigation into the PFIPC saga, instructing the commission to submit a comprehensive report within 30 days.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga had announced the directive on July 2 after growing public scrutiny over the operations of the organisation, which reportedly functioned like a federal agency despite questions surrounding its legal status.
The controversy first gained national attention in June when the Presidency publicly distanced itself from the PFIPC, insisting that no such agency exists under the Tinubu administration.
The alleged promoter of the council, Adeniyi Adeyemi, had claimed that Gbajabiamila signed his appointment letter, an allegation the Chief of Staff firmly denied.
Gbajabiamila maintained that neither his office nor the Presidency appointed Adeyemi to any role within the organisation.
However, Adeyemi escalated the dispute during a press conference on June 26, alleging that Gbajabiamila received ₦400 million through a proxy and later demanded an additional ₦200 million to facilitate his appointment. The allegations have not been substantiated, and the Chief of Staff has consistently denied any involvement.
The dispute subsequently took a dramatic turn after the Nigeria Police Force filed criminal charges against Adeyemi over alleged forgery and impersonation linked to the operations of the PFIPC.
Adeyemi was arrested in Osun State on July 14, the same day a Federal High Court in Abuja issued a bench warrant for his arrest after he failed to honour the court’s summons.
Investigators are examining how the organisation allegedly operated with characteristics of a federal agency despite lacking an enabling law or formal presidential proclamation.
Among the issues under scrutiny are the council’s reported allocation of ₦1.3 billion in the 2026 Appropriation Act, the use of office space within the Federal Secretariat in Abuja and the recruitment of staff members.
The office accommodation has also become a subject of a separate parliamentary inquiry.
Earlier on Monday, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation Esther Walson-Jack told the House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the matter that the office space occupied by the purported PFIPC had originally been allocated to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The unfolding investigation has become one of the most closely watched governance controversies in recent months, with anti-corruption agencies, lawmakers and the Presidency seeking to determine how an entity lacking formal legal backing was able to project itself as a government institution and gain access to public resources.
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While no criminal allegation has been made against Gbajabiamila by the ICPC, Monday’s questioning underscores the commission’s determination to obtain evidence from key officials as it works to unravel the circumstances surrounding the ICPC Questions Gbajabiamila investigation and establish accountability where necessary.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
