Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, on Monday appeared before the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) as part of investigations into the alleged activities of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), a body the Presidency has described as non-existent.
Gbajabiamila’s appearance followed an invitation from the anti-graft agency after President Tinubu directed the commission to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the alleged agency and submit its findings within 30 days.
Confirming the development, Gbajabiamila’s lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, Principal Counsel of Jiti Ogunye Chambers, said the Chief of Staff fully cooperated with investigators and honoured the commission’s invitation.
In a statement titled, “Gbajabiamila responds to ICPC invitation over ongoing investigation into ‘PFIPC’ fake agency,” Ogunye disclosed that his client appeared before the commission at about 3:00 p.m. on Monday.
According to the statement, “In full cooperation with the ICPC and 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 15:00 hrs on Monday, July 20, 2026, as part of the ongoing investigation into the activities of the ‘PFIPC’ fake agency, among others.
“My client gave his testimony, responded to questions accordingly, and has returned to his duty post.”
President Tinubu had earlier instructed the ICPC to investigate the alleged activities of the PFIPC after the Presidency declared that the body was never established by the Federal Government and had no legal foundation.
The directive was announced by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who stated that the purported council had no basis in law, executive approval, presidential instrument or any lawful government action.
The President specifically ordered investigators to probe forged appointment letters and official government documents allegedly used by one Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew, who claimed to be the Director-General of the council and presented himself as a presidential appointee.
The investigation is also expected to examine Adeyemi’s alleged use of the claimed appointment to obtain official recognition and diplomatic support, including visa facilitation, as well as the opening of multiple bank accounts in the names of government agencies using allegedly forged documents.
Tinubu further directed the ICPC to determine how the alleged fake agency was able to gain an appearance of legitimacy despite lacking any legal backing.
According to the presidential directive, investigators are expected to establish the origin and use of the disputed documents, examine the process through which official recognition or diplomatic support may have been sought, investigate the operation of related bank accounts, trace any financial transactions linked to the alleged scheme, and identify any public officials, private individuals or institutions that may have facilitated it.
The President also instructed the commission to identify loopholes within government systems that may have been exploited and recommend reforms to prevent similar incidents in the future.
To facilitate the investigation, all ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government were directed to provide the ICPC with every relevant record and assistance required for the exercise.
“The integrity of the Presidency and the institutions of the Federal Government must be protected against impersonation, forgery, abuse of official identity and the exploitation of weaknesses in the public service.
“All persons found culpable are to be treated strictly in accordance with applicable law,” the President stated.
The investigation follows widespread public concern after reports alleged that the PFIPC operated from the Federal Secretariat Complex, maintained accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria, appeared in the 2026 Appropriation Act with an allocation of N1.3 billion and engaged diplomatic missions despite reportedly lacking any enabling law.
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, who represents Adeyemi, had questioned how the alleged agency was included in the national budget if its establishment documents were forged, while also calling for a thorough investigation into all individuals connected with the matter.
The Presidency has consistently denied any link between Gbajabiamila and the alleged scheme, insisting that forensic analysis conducted by the Nigeria Police established that the Chief of Staff’s signature on the disputed appointment letter was forged.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said police investigations concluded that all documents allegedly presented by Adeyemi to support his claims were fake.
“The police have investigated this man. They have done forensic analysis of the Chief of Staff’s signature.
“The case has been filed at the Federal Court already. And I am telling you that before the police filed the case, they had already done their own forensic analysis and found that the signature was forged.
“They found out that all the documents he was parading were fake,” Onanuga said.
