The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Monday interrogated Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, over his alleged role in the emergence and operations of the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).
Gbajabiamila’s appearance at the ICPC headquarters followed a direct order from President Tinubu on July 2, mandating a “thorough investigation” into the scandal that has rocked the administration’s inner circle.
The Chief of Staff’s legal counsel, Jiti Ogunye, confirmed in a statement that his client arrived at the commission’s office at approximately 15:00hrs to respond to an invitation from the anti-graft agency.
“In full cooperation with the ICPC, acting as directed by the President of Nigeria, I hereby confirm that my client, Femi Gbajabiamila, responded to the invitation and appeared on Monday as part of the ongoing investigation into the activities of the ‘PFIPC’ fake agency, among others,” Ogunye stated.
According to the counsel, the Chief of Staff gave his testimony and responded to all questions before returning to his duty post.
The scandal centered on the PFIPC—an entity the Presidency now insists does not exist—took a sensational turn in June when the alleged operator of the council, Adeniyi Adeyemi, accused Gbajabiamila of high-level corruption.
Adeyemi, who is currently facing criminal charges for forgery and impersonation, alleged that the Chief of Staff received ₦400 million through a proxy to facilitate the council’s operations and subsequently demanded an additional ₦200 million to secure Adeyemi’s formal appointment.
Gbajabiamila has vehemently denied these claims, describing the PFIPC as a “fake agency” and asserting that his office never authorized any appointments related to the organization.
The investigation is expected to unravel how the PFIPC managed to operate with the trappings of a legitimate government body despite lacking any legal framework or presidential proclamation.
Investigations revealed that the “ghost” agency was not only allocated a line item in the 2026 national budget but also secured high-profile office space at the Federal Secretariat and successfully recruited a full complement of staff.
The discrepancy between the Presidency’s claim that the agency is “fake” and the fact that it received public funding and government real estate has put the Office of the Chief of Staff under intense scrutiny.
President Tinubu’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, had earlier noted that the President expects a comprehensive report from the ICPC within 30 days. The directive followed the arrest of Adeniyi Adeyemi in Osun State on July 14, after he failed to honor a Federal High Court summons.
While the police continue to prosecute Adeyemi for impersonation, the ICPC’s focus remains on the institutional lapses and the alleged financial misconduct involving senior government officials.
The outcome of the probe is being closely watched as a litmus test for President Tinubu’s “zero-tolerance for corruption” stance within his own cabinet.
