ICPC quizzes Gbajabiamila over alleged fake investment council probe

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has questioned Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President, over its ongoing investigation into the alleged fraudulent operations of the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).

The development marks a fresh phase in the high-profile investigation ordered by President Bola Tinubu following the discovery that the council allegedly operated for about two years from the Federal Secretariat in Abuja without presidential approval or legal recognition.

The anti-graft agency confirmed on Tuesday that Gbajabiamila honoured its invitation on Monday and appeared before investigators at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, where he made a statement regarding the circumstances surrounding the controversial organisation.

In a statement signed by Okor Odey, ICPC’s Head of Media and Public Communications, the commission clarified that the President’s Chief of Staff was not arrested but voluntarily responded to the invitation as part of efforts to establish the facts surrounding the case.

According to the commission, Gbajabiamila arrived at the ICPC headquarters on Monday afternoon, answered questions from investigators and departed after the interview.

“The Chief of Staff’s visit was at the invitation of investigators and in line with the Commission’s ongoing efforts to gather all relevant facts in the matter. He was not arrested; he willingly honoured the invitation,” the statement said.

The ICPC disclosed that President Tinubu had directed it to conduct a thorough investigation into how the purported PFIPC allegedly operated from offices within the Federal Secretariat under one Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who reportedly presented himself as the Director-General of the organisation.

The commission noted that the Presidency had already disowned the council, describing it as a fraudulent entity that lacked any legal backing or presidential authorisation to operate on behalf of the Federal Government.

It added that investigations into the matter remain ongoing and assured that further details would be made public as the probe progresses.

The PFIPC controversy first came to light after the Presidency publicly distanced itself from the organisation, declaring that it was not established or authorised by the Federal Government despite allegedly presenting itself as an official investment promotion agency.

The council was reportedly operating from the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, while Adeniyi Matthew, its alleged Director-General, held himself out as the head of the body.

Following the revelation, Tinubu directed the ICPC to investigate how the organisation gained access to government facilities, identify those responsible for its operations, and determine whether any public officials facilitated or aided its activities.