Gbajabiamila Honours ICPC Invitation as Reps Launch PFIPC Probe

The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has appeared before the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission as part of investigations into the activities of the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council.

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His counsel, Jiti Ogunye, disclosed in a statement on Monday that the presidential aide honoured the invitation in line with President Bola Tinubu's directive for a full investigation into the allegations surrounding the council.

Ogunye said Gbajabiamila visited the commission's headquarters on Monday afternoon, made a statement, responded to questions from investigators and thereafter resumed his official responsibilities.

The investigation stems from allegations made by the self-proclaimed Director-General of the PFIPC, Adeniyi Adeyemi, who accused the Chief of Staff of demanding 48 per cent of the agency's purported ₦27.3bn take-off fund.

Adeyemi also alleged that Gbajabiamila collected ₦400m through an intermediary and later requested an additional ₦200m to facilitate presidential approvals.

The Chief of Staff has denied all the allegations, maintaining that he has no personal, official or business relationship with Adeyemi. He also rejected claims of receiving money, abusing his office or obstructing the work of law enforcement agencies.

He equally dismissed allegations linking him to the death of Babatunde Tanimola, said to be an intermediary in the matter, and denied claims that he attempted to influence investigations or orchestrate attacks against Adeyemi.

Following the allegations, President Tinubu directed the anti-corruption commission to investigate the matter.

Separately, Gbajabiamila has filed a ₦15bn defamation suit against Adeyemi before a Federal Capital Territory High Court, seeking damages, litigation costs and a court order compelling the defendant to publish a public retraction and apology in national newspapers and on social media platforms.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has inaugurated a 12-member ad hoc committee to investigate the establishment of the PFIPC and examine how a ₦1.3bn allocation was captured for the agency in the 2026 national budget.

Representing the Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen, at the inauguration, the Majority Leader of the House, Julius Ihonvbere, said the exercise was intended to establish the facts surrounding the agency and its budgetary allocation, not to pursue any political agenda.

Chairman of the committee, Yusuf Gagdi, assured Nigerians that the panel would carry out a transparent, thorough and unbiased investigation before presenting its findings.