PFIPC Probe: Gbajabiamila appears before ICPC panel 

Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, on Monday, appeared before the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) probe panel over ongoing investigations into the ‘PFIPC’ Fake Agency saga.

Jiti Ogunye, Counsel to the Chief of Staff, disclosed this on Monday, in a statement he personally signed. Recall that President Tinubu had earlier directed the ICPC to thoroughly investigate the matter and provide its report within 30 days. The statement said Gbajabiamila, who was interrogated, responded to questions accordingly.y

Gbajabiamila also returned to his duty post shortly after he engaged with the panel. Ogunye, said ” In full cooperation with the ICPC acting as directed by the President of Nigeria, I hereby confirm that my client, Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President of Nigeria, responded to the invitation of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and appeared at about 15:00hrs on Monday, July 20, 2026, as part of the ongoing investigation into the activities of the ‘PFIPC’ fake agency, among others.

“My client gave his testimony, responded to questions accordingly, and has returned to his duty post”.

The President had directed the ICPC  to conduct a thorough investigation into the activities of a “Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council” (PFIPC) and all related matters.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said the President directed that the investigation be concluded and a comprehensive report submitted to him within 30 days.

The President’s Spokesman states that the directive followed the discovery of the fictitious PFIPC, which was never established by the Federal Government of Nigeria and has no basis in any law, presidential instrument, executive approval, or other lawful act of Government.

“One Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew presented himself as the Director-General of the so-called PFIPC and falsely claimed to be a presidential appointee.

Among the issues being investigated by the ICPC are the claims that Adeniyi Adeyemi had forged the appointment letters and other official government documents; the use of a false claim of presidential appointment to seek or obtain official recognition and diplomatic support, including visa facilitation; and the opening of multiple bank accounts in the names of purported government agencies using allegedly forged documents.

Other issues to be unravelled by the probe panel include: “not only the conduct of the principal individual and other collaborators involved but also the wider circumstances that may have enabled a fictitious body and a false claim of presidential appointment to acquire an appearance of official legitimacy.

The ICPC  is to also ” examine the provenance and use of false official documents; the processes through which official recognition or diplomatic support may have been sought or obtained; the opening and operation of any related bank accounts; the source and movement of any funds involved; and the role of any public officer, private individual, financial institution, intermediary or other person or entity that may have facilitated, enabled or participated in the alleged scheme.”

The President further directed the Commission to identify any weaknesses in government and institutional procedures that may have been exploited and to recommend immediate measures to prevent the recurrence of similar abuses.

He directed all ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government to provide the ICPC, upon lawful request, with all relevant information, records and assistance required for the expeditious completion of the investigation.

The President, while also noting that the integrity of the Presidency and the institutions of the Federal Government must be protected against impersonation, forgery, abuse of official identity and the exploitation of weaknesses in the public service, added that  “all persons found culpable be treated strictly in accordance with applicable law.”

The Federal Government had maintained that the PFIPC has no legal standing and has filed criminal charges against Adeyemi over allegations including forgery, impersonation and related offences.

The government described him as a “conman with proven history of forgery”, But  Adeyem, who has been in police custody, has expressed his desire for an independent panel, expressing fears that the ICPC probe may not be able to arrive at an objective outcome.

Speaking in an interview he granted to Channels Television’s Politics Today recently, Adeyemi also claimed  that his life was ” in danger”, adding that he is facing acts of ” intimidation”

He also claimed that he was being coerced. “They want me to drop the case at all costs, but I will never be intimidated”

“They want to silence me by fire, by force, and I will not be silenced,”

“I am not a con artist. The independent panel will unravel the truth and say whether I am wrong or I am right.”