Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has appeared before the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over his alleged role in the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), an agency the Federal Government says never existed.
Gbajabiamila honoured the commission’s invitation on Monday as part of an investigation ordered by President Tinubu into the activities of the purported council and those connected with it.
His lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, confirmed in a statement that the Chief of Staff appeared before the ICPC at about 3:00 p.m., cooperated fully with investigators, answered questions relating to the ongoing probe, and subsequently returned to his official duties.
The investigation follows President Tinubu’s directive that the ICPC conduct a comprehensive probe into the fake agency and submit its findings within 30 days.
According to the Presidency, the PFIPC was never created by the Federal Government and had no legal backing, presidential approval, executive instrument, or lawful basis for operation.
The investigation centres on allegations that one Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew falsely presented himself as Director-General of the council using forged appointment letters and official government documents.
The ICPC is also probing claims that the suspect used the alleged presidential appointment to obtain official recognition, diplomatic support, visa facilitation, and to open multiple bank accounts in the names of purported government agencies.
Beyond the principal suspect, the anti-corruption agency has been directed to investigate the roles of any public officials, private individuals, financial institutions, intermediaries, or other entities that may have facilitated or benefited from the alleged scheme. The probe will also examine how the fictitious body acquired an appearance of legitimacy and the source and movement of any funds linked to its operations.
