Jul 21, 2026

Gbajabiamila Honoured ICPC Invitation, Was Not Arrested

By Afolabi Olaiya Idowu in news

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Abuja, Nigeria – July 21, 2026 – In a significant development testing the Tinubu administration’s commitment to transparency, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, appeared at the headquarters of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in Abuja on Monday to provide a detailed statement.

The ICPC confirmed that Gbajabiamila honoured an official invitation from its investigators as part of a broader probe into the circumstances surrounding the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).

The agency, which the Presidency has repeatedly described as fictitious and lacking any legal basis, allegedly operated from the Federal Secretariat in Abuja for nearly two years under Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who presented himself as its Director-General.

ICPC spokesperson Demola Bakare emphasized that the Chief of Staff was neither arrested nor detained. “He was not arrested; he simply willingly honoured an invitation,” the statement read, underscoring that the visit aligned with President Tinubu’s earlier directive for a thorough investigation.

The controversy erupted after Gbajabiamila publicly disowned the PFIPC in mid-June, warning the public against dealing with individuals claiming affiliation with the non-existent body.

Adeyemi countered with explosive allegations, claiming Gbajabiamila had demanded substantial kickbacks—including N400 million received through proxies and an additional N200 million—for facilitating his appointment, plus 48% of a reported N27.4 billion take-off grant.

These claims have fueled intense public debate, with opposition figures like Atiku Abubakar and civil society groups calling for Gbajabiamila’s suspension pending the outcome of investigations to ensure impartiality.

Further scrutiny arose when it emerged that the PFIPC received a N1.3 billion allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Act under the Presidency—despite official disclaimers.

Government agencies, including the Office of the Accountant-General and CBN, have clarified that while some accounts were requested, they remained inactive with no funds released or transactions recorded.

President Tinubu directed the ICPC to conduct a comprehensive investigation, with a 30-day deadline for a report. The probe examines alleged forgery of appointment letters, impersonation, misuse of official resources, and how the entity secured office space, staff approvals, and budgetary provisions.

Gbajabiamila has strongly denied the allegations, instituting a N15 billion defamation suit against Adeyemi and maintaining that he never appointed or interacted directly in the manner claimed.

Adeyemi, for his part, has faced charges related to the operation of the fake agency and was recently arrested.

As a veteran journalist who has covered Nigerian governance for decades, this episode highlights the persistent challenges of bureaucratic opacity and the ease with which fraudulent entities can seemingly embed themselves within official structures.

It raises legitimate questions about oversight in the Presidency and the mechanisms that allowed an alleged impostor to operate for so long—securing meetings with diplomats, planning international summits, and even appearing in official budget documents.

Yet, the swift presidential intervention and ICPC’s transparency in clarifying Gbajabiamila’s voluntary appearance signal a willingness to confront the issue head-on.

Nigerians will be watching closely for the full findings, which could either vindicate key officials or expose deeper systemic vulnerabilities in investment promotion efforts at a time when attracting foreign direct investment remains critical for economic recovery.

The ICPC has assured the public that the investigation continues, with further updates to follow.

This case serves as a stark reminder that in the fight against corruption, no one is above scrutiny—not even those at the highest levels of power.