The ICPC has confirmed questioning the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, over its investigation into the alleged fake Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, insisting he was not arrested
ICPC Questions Gbajabiamila Over Fake Presidential Agency Probe
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has confirmed questioning the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, over its ongoing investigation into the activities of the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), insisting that the senior presidential aide was not arrested.
The commission said Mr Gbajabiamila honoured an invitation from its investigators on Monday to assist in establishing how the organisation allegedly operated for about two years from the Federal Secretariat in Abuja despite not being created by any law or presidential proclamation.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the ICPC’s Head of Media and Public Communications, , the commission said Mr Gbajabiamila arrived at its Abuja headquarters, responded to questions from investigators and departed after the session.
“Mr Gbajabiamila arrived at the Commission in the afternoon and spent some time attending to enquiries from investigators, after which he departed the premises.”
The anti-graft agency stressed that the Chief of Staff’s appearance should not be interpreted as an arrest.
“The Commission confirms that the Chief of Staff’s visit was on the invitation of its investigators and consistent with its ongoing efforts to gather all relevant facts in the matter. He was not arrested; he simply willingly honoured an invitation.”
It added, “Investigations continue, and further updates will be communicated as appropriate.”
The ICPC did not disclose details of the questions put to Mr Gbajabiamila during the session.
The confirmation came a day after Mr Gbajabiamila’s lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, disclosed that his client had voluntarily appeared before the commission in compliance with President Tinubu’s directive ordering a full investigation into the matter.
According to Mr Ogunye, the Chief of Staff arrived at the commission’s headquarters at about 3:00 p.m. on Monday, cooperated fully with investigators and returned to his official duties after giving his statement.
“My client gave his testimony, responded to questions accordingly, and has returned to his duty post.”
Earlier this month, President Tinubu directed the ICPC to investigate the fake agency scandal and submit its findings within 30 days after the Federal Government disowned the PFIPC, describing it as a fraudulent organisation allegedly operated by Adeniyi Adeyemi, who is accused of posing as its Director-General.
The controversy erupted after Mr Adeyemi allegedly claimed he paid N400 million in bribes to facilitate the establishment and operation of the purported agency, including money allegedly paid to an individual he believed was Mr Gbajabiamila.
The Chief of Staff has consistently denied receiving any bribe from Mr Adeyemi and has maintained that he was the person who reported Mr Adeyemi and the alleged activities of the fake agency to the police.
Investigators are examining how the purported organisation allegedly secured office space within the Federal Secretariat, obtained budgetary allocations, opened accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria and recruited public servants using official government documents despite lacking any legal foundation.
The controversy has also spilled into the courts, with Mr Gbajabiamila filing a N15 billion defamation suit against Mr Adeyemi after demanding a retraction and apology over the bribery allegations.
Mr Adeyemi is separately facing an eight-count charge before the Federal High Court in Abuja over the alleged operation of the purported agency. The police accused him and two others, who remain at large, of conspiracy and forgery involving several official documents. In one of the counts, prosecutors alleged that Mr Adeyemi falsely presented himself as the Director-General of the PFIPC.
The court subsequently issued a warrant for his arrest after he repeatedly failed to appear for trial. He is currently in police custody as investigations into the alleged fake presidential agency continue.
