ICPC Speaks on Gbajabiamila’s Alleged Arrest Over PFIPC Scandal

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has confirmed that the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, was questioned as part of its ongoing investigation into the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) scandal, as reported by Politics Nigeria.

According to the agency, Gbajabiamila was not arrested.

The clarification came on Tuesday after Gbajabiamila appeared at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday.

The anti-graft agency explained that the presidential aide honoured an invitation from investigators to assist in establishing how the purported agency operated for nearly two years within the Federal Secretariat despite not being created by any law or presidential proclamation.

In a statement issued by the ICPC’s Head of Media and Public Communications, Demola Bakare, the commission said Gbajabiamila voluntarily appeared before investigators and answered questions relating to the probe.

“Mr Gbajabiamila arrived at the Commission in the afternoon and spent some time attending to enquiries from investigators, after which he departed the premises,” the statement read.

The commission stressed that the Chief of Staff’s appearance should not be interpreted as an arrest.

“The Commission confirms that the Chief of Staff’s visit was on the invitation of its investigators and consistent with its ongoing efforts to gather all relevant facts in the matter. He was not arrested; he simply willingly honoured an invitation,” the ICPC said.

It added that the investigation remains ongoing and promised to provide further updates when necessary.

The ICPC did not disclose details of the questions put to Gbajabiamila during the session.

The commission’s statement came a day after Gbajabiamila’s lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, confirmed that his client had honoured the invitation in compliance with President Bola Tinubu’s directive ordering a full investigation into the fake agency scandal.

According to Ogunye, the Chief of Staff arrived at the ICPC headquarters at about 3:00 p.m. on Monday, cooperated fully with investigators, gave his testimony and returned to his office after the session.

“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 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.

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

POLITICS NIGERIA reports that President Tinubu earlier directed the ICPC to investigate the activities of the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council and submit its findings within 30 days after revelations that the organisation allegedly operated from the Federal Secretariat without any legal backing.

The Federal Government has since disowned the PFIPC, describing it as a fraudulent entity allegedly operated by Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew, who is accused of falsely presenting himself as the agency’s Director-General.

The scandal attracted national attention after Adeyemi allegedly claimed that he paid about ₦400 million in bribes to facilitate the establishment and operation of the purported agency, including money allegedly paid to someone he believed represented Gbajabiamila.

The Chief of Staff has denied receiving any bribe and has maintained that he was the official who initially reported Adeyemi’s activities to security authorities. He has also instituted a ₦15 billion defamation suit against the suspect over the allegations.

Investigators are seeking to determine how the non-existent agency allegedly secured office space within the Federal Secretariat, obtained official government documents, opened dozens of bank accounts, including one with the Central Bank of Nigeria, employed public servants and reportedly secured about ₦1.3 billion in the 2026 Appropriation Act despite lacking any legal foundation.

Meanwhile, Adeyemi is standing trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja on an eight-count charge bordering on forgery and impersonation. He is also expected to appear in court alongside two alleged accomplices identified only as Femi and Anu, who remain at large.

The House of Representatives has also launched a separate investigation into how the fictitious agency found its way into the 2026 budget, while the Presidency has repeatedly denied any involvement in the activities of the organisation. The ICPC said its investigation is still ongoing and that additional information would be released as appropriate.