PFIPC: Gbajabiamila appears before ICPC for inquiry over ‘fake’ agency

Chief of Staff (CoS) to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Monday appeared before the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) as part of the ongoing investigation into the alleged fake Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).

The anti-graft agency in a statement on Tuesday said Gbajabiamila visited its headquarters in Abuja in response to an invitation from investigators and provided a statement to assist the inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the purported council.

According to the commission, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed it to investigate how the PFIPC, which the Presidency has described as a fraudulent entity, operated from the Federal Secretariat in Abuja for about two years under Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who allegedly presented himself as the council’s director-general.

ICPC stated that Gbajabiamila arrived at its headquarters in the afternoon, responded to investigators’ enquiries and left after the session.

The commission clarified that the Chief of Staff was neither arrested nor detained, adding that his appearance formed part of efforts to obtain all relevant facts relating to the investigation. It said inquiries are ongoing and further updates will be provided when necessary.

Gbajabiamila’s appearance came a day after the self-acclaimed director-general of the alleged PFIPC, Prince Adeyemi Matthew Adeniyi, claimed that officials of the Budget Office facilitated the inclusion of the controversial agency in the Federal Government’s budget.

Adeniyi made the allegation during an interview with social media personality Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, in a video released after his arrest.

He also maintained that Gbajabiamila played no role in the agency’s reported N1.3 billion budgetary allocation, claiming he personally pursued its inclusion through Budget Office officials.

Tribune Online recalls that President Tinubu earlier this month directed the ICPC to investigate the alleged fake agency and submit its findings within 30 days.

The Federal Government had disowned the PFIPC, describing it as a fraudulent organisation allegedly operated by Adeniyi Adeyemi, who is accused of posing as its director-general.

The controversy emerged after Adeyemi allegedly claimed he paid N400 million in bribes to facilitate the establishment and operation of the purported agency, including money allegedly paid to a person he believed was Gbajabiamila.

Gbajabiamila has denied receiving any bribe from Adeyemi and said he was the individual who reported Adeyemi and his activities to the police.