The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Monday questioned the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, over his alleged connection with the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), an organisation the Presidency has declared to be non-existent. Gbajabiamila appeared before investigators at the anti-graft agency’s headquarters in Abuja as the Commission intensifies its probe into what has become one of the most controversial government-related scandals in recent months. His lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, confirmed the development in a statement on Monday, saying the Chief of Staff honoured the Commission’s invitation and fully cooperated with investigators in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive for a comprehensive investigation into the activities of the alleged fake agency. According to Ogunye, Gbajabiamila arrived at the ICPC headquarters at about 3:00 p.m. on Monday and spent several hours responding to questions from investigators before returning to his official duties at the Presidency. “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,” Ogunye said. He stated that his client gave his testimony, answered all questions put to him by investigators and thereafter resumed his official responsibilities. The interrogation marks a significant development in the widening investigation into the PFIPC, a body the Presidency insists was never established by the federal government and has no legal or constitutional basis. The scandal first came to public attention after the Presidency announced that the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council was neither created by an Act of the National Assembly nor established through an Executive Order or presidential approval. According to presidential officials, there is no record showing that such an agency was ever approved as part of the Federal Government’s institutional framework. At the centre of the controversy is Adeniyi Adeyemi, who allegedly presented himself as the Director-General of the council and claimed he had been appointed by President Tinubu. Investigators believe Adeyemi and his associates relied on forged presidential appointment letters and fabricated government documents to project the organisation as a legitimate federal agency. The Presidency alleged that the suspects used the forged documents to seek official recognition from government institutions, facilitate diplomatic engagements, process visa applications and conduct other official transactions under the false identity of a government agency. Authorities also alleged that the group opened and operated multiple bank accounts in the names of purported government institutions using forged official documents, raising concerns over possible financial crimes and abuse of public institutions. The controversy deepened after reports indicated that the PFIPC allegedly secured a N1.3 billion allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Act despite not being a legally recognised government agency. The organisation was also reportedly allocated office accommodation within the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, a development that has fuelled public concern over possible institutional failures and the level of access the alleged syndicate enjoyed within government circles. The revelations have triggered widespread calls for accountability and a thorough investigation into how a non-existent agency allegedly gained access to government facilities, official documents and budgetary provisions. Although questions have been raised over possible insider involvement, Gbajabiamila has repeatedly denied any association with the organisation. He has maintained that he neither appointed Adeyemi nor authorised anyone to establish or operate the council on behalf of the Presidency. The Chief of Staff has consistently described Adeyemi as an impostor currently facing criminal prosecution and insisted that any attempt to link him to the alleged fraudulent organisation is false and misleading. Amid growing public scrutiny, President Tinubu on July 7 directed the ICPC to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the activities of the PFIPC and every individual connected with its operations. In a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President directed the anti-corruption agency to conclude its investigation within 30 days and submit a comprehensive report detailing its findings. The presidential directive empowered the ICPC to investigate the alleged forgery of president
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