Human rights activist and former African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has called on the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to make public the complete video recording of its interrogation of President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.
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The demand follows growing public interest in the ongoing investigation surrounding the alleged Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), an organisation the Federal Government has distanced itself from amid allegations of irregular operations.
In a statement shared on his social media platform on Tuesday, Sowore argued that releasing the entire footage would allow Nigerians to independently assess the depth and credibility of the anti-corruption agency’s questioning of the presidential aide.
According to him, transparency is essential if the commission hopes to convince the public that the investigation is being handled without bias or political influence.
“If investigators genuinely subjected the Chief of Staff to a rigorous session, there should be no hesitation in publishing the complete, unedited recording,” Sowore said.
“Anything short of that will continue to fuel suspicions about the process.”
His remarks came shortly after the ICPC moved to clarify reports suggesting that Gbajabiamila had been arrested over the matter.
The commission dismissed the reports, stating that the presidential aide was neither detained nor taken into custody.
Instead, it said he voluntarily appeared before investigators in response to an official invitation.
An ICPC official familiar with the case said the visit formed part of ongoing efforts to establish the facts surrounding the controversial council.
“Mr Gbajabiamila honoured an invitation from investigators and provided information relevant to the inquiry,” the official said. “At no point was he arrested.”
While confirming that the Chief of Staff responded to questions, the commission declined to reveal the substance of the interview or details of the information provided during the session.
The investigation itself stems from concerns over the activities of the purported PFIPC, which allegedly operated from the Federal Secretariat in Abuja despite lacking a recognised legal foundation.
President Tinubu subsequently directed the ICPC to examine how the organisation functioned for an extended period within government premises and whether public institutions played any role in facilitating its operations.
Investigators are also probing allegations that the group gained access to official government facilities, documents and financial structures without proper authorisation.
Central to the controversy is Adeniyi Adeyemi, who allegedly presented himself as the Director-General of the council.
Government authorities have since disowned the organisation, maintaining that it was never officially established through recognised procedures.
The matter has attracted the attention of lawmakers as well, prompting a parallel investigation by the House of Representatives.
During a recent hearing, officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria disclosed that two foreign-currency accounts were opened in connection with the purported council after receiving documentation from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
Hamisu Ibrahim, Director of Banking Services at the apex bank, told lawmakers that one account was opened in US dollars while the second was denominated in British pounds sterling.
However, he explained that the accounts never became operational because the individuals authorised to manage them did not complete the necessary activation process.
“As far as the bank’s records show, the accounts remained dormant, and no transactions were carried out through them,” Ibrahim told the committee.
Meanwhile, Adeyemi has been arrested and is currently facing prosecution over allegations linked to the creation and activities of the disputed organisation.
The legal proceedings are ongoing, and a court is yet to determine his guilt or innocence.
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