The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has confirmed the questioning of the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, over the disputed Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).
In a statement on Tuesday, the anti-corruption agency said the questioning was in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to the ICPC to investigate “how the PFIPC, an entity the Presidency has disowned as fraudulent, came to operate from within the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, for a reported period of about two years, under one Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who is alleged to have paraded himself as the Director-General of the said Council.”
According to the ICPC, Gbajabiamila arrived at the Commission on Monday “and spent some time attending to enquiries from investigators, after which he departed the premises”.
“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,” ICPC’s Head, Media and Public Communications, Okor Odey, said in the statement. “Investigations continue, and further updates will be communicated as appropriate.”
ICPC’s confirmation came hours after Gbajabiamila’s lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, said the Chief of Staff was at the commission’s office following an investigation into PFIPC’s activities.
‘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 15:00 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,” the lawyer said.
The development comes amid the controversy over the ‘presidential council’. Adeniyi Adeyemi had for months paraded himself as the director-general of the disputed agency.
He claimed that Gbajabiamila gave him an appointment letter for the role. Adeyemi, who was arrested last week, also claimed to have given money to the Chief of Staff to secure the job.
But the former House of Representatives Speaker has denied the allegations, filing a suit against Adeyemi. The presidency has also said the council does not exist.
President Tinubu, in the wake of the development, ordered an investigation into the matter.
