/ Jul 21, 2026
/ Jul 21, 2026

ICPC says Gbajabiamila honoured invitation, not arrested over PFIPC probe

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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has confirmed that Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, honoured an invitation from its investigators over the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), stressing that he was not arrested.

 

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the ICPC, Gbajabiamila visited the commission on Monday in compliance with an invitation linked to an ongoing investigation ordered by President Bola Tinubu into the activities of the disputed PFIPC.

The anti-corruption agency said the investigation seeks to determine how the PFIPC, which the Presidency has described as a fraudulent and non-existent entity, allegedly operated from the Federal Secretariat in Abuja for about two years under Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who reportedly presented himself as the council’s director-general.

ICPC spokesperson Okor Odey said Gbajabiamila spent time responding to investigators’ questions before leaving the commission’s office.

“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,” the statement said.

The commission added that investigations are ongoing and further updates will be provided when necessary.

Earlier, Gbajabiamila’s lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, confirmed that his client appeared before the ICPC at about 3:00 p.m. on Monday in full cooperation with the investigation.

According to the lawyer, the Chief of Staff gave his testimony, answered questions from investigators and afterwards returned to his official duties.

The controversy centres on Adeniyi Adeyemi, who allegedly presented himself for months as the director-general of the disputed PFIPC. Following his arrest last week, Adeyemi claimed Gbajabiamila issued him an appointment letter and alleged he paid money to secure the position.

Gbajabiamila has denied the allegations and filed a defamation suit against Adeyemi. The Presidency has also maintained that the PFIPC is not a recognised government agency.

President Tinubu subsequently directed the ICPC to investigate the matter.

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Umar Ahmed tells House of Representatives committee that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs never approved PFIPC's request to host a World Investment Summit in Nigeria.

Foreign Affairs Ministry denies backing PFIPC World Investment Summit

Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has told the House of Representatives that it never approved any request by the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) to organise a World Investment Summit, distancing itself completely from the disputed body.   According to TheCable, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Umar Ahmed, made the disclosure on Tuesday while appearing before the House ad hoc committee investigating the PFIPC controversy and the N1.3 billion allocated to the council in the 2026 Appropriation Act. Ahmed, who represented Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, said the ministry received three requests from Adeniyi Adeyemi, who presented himself as PFIPC’s director-general, seeking collaboration and endorsement for the proposed summit. The requests were submitted on June 26, 2025, August 5, 2025, and June 5, 2026. He said the ministry declined to act on the requests after carrying out due diligence and identifying discrepancies in the documents submitted. Ahmed disclosed that the ministry also sought clarification from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in October 2025 regarding Adeyemi and the PFIPC. He said the ONSA later informed the ministry that enquiries with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President showed Adeyemi was unknown to any federal government office. The permanent secretary stressed that the ministry had no official dealings with the PFIPC, adding that it did not participate in any diplomatic engagements, facilitate foreign investors, sign agreements, or direct Nigerian missions to work with the council. The PFIPC controversy has drawn national attention following allegations that Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, appointed Adeyemi as the council’s director-general. Gbajabiamila has denied the claim, while the Presidency said the appointment letter bearing his signature was forged. Adeyemi was arrested by police operatives in Osun State on July 14, while the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) questioned Gbajabiamila on Monday as part of its investigation. On the same day, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation Esther Walson-Jack told lawmakers that the office space occupied by the PFIPC at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja was originally allocated to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
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