The investigation into the alleged Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) intensified on Monday as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) questioned President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, over allegations linked to the controversial council.
The development coincided with testimony before the House of Representatives investigative committee, where the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Esther Walson-Jack, acknowledged that her office did not fully verify documents submitted by representatives of the council before approving an authorised staff establishment.
Lawmakers are seeking to determine how the PFIPC, which government officials maintain was never legally established, obtained official government documents, appeared in the 2026 Appropriation Act, reportedly secured office accommodation within the Federal Secretariat and had foreign-currency domiciliary accounts opened by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
As the investigation expanded, the House committee summoned the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Minister of Finance, the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Budget Office, the Federal Character Commission and the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission to provide explanations regarding the council’s operations and funding.
Gbajabiamila honoured the ICPC’s invitation at its Abuja headquarters, where he provided information to investigators as part of the ongoing probe into the alleged fake agency.
The investigation was triggered by allegations made by the self-proclaimed Director-General of the PFIPC, Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claimed that Gbajabiamila requested financial benefits in exchange for facilitating his appointment. The allegations remain under investigation.
