The Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has appeared before the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) as part of an ongoing investigation into allegations surrounding the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), a body the Federal Government has described as an illegal agency.
Gbajabiamila honoured the invitation on Monday and gave a statement to investigators before returning to work, according to his lawyer, Jiti Ogunye.
The appearance marks a major development in the controversy that has dominated public attention in recent weeks after serious corruption allegations were made against one of the country’s most senior government officials.
In a statement issued on Monday, Ogunye said his client cooperated fully with the anti-graft agency in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive that the allegations be investigated.
He 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 3:00 p.m. on Monday, July 20, 2026, as part of the ongoing investigation into the activities of the PFIPC fake agency, among others.”
According to Ogunye, the Chief of Staff answered questions from investigators, gave his testimony and left after the session to resume his official duties.
The ICPC has not yet released details of the meeting or indicated whether any further action will follow.
The investigation stems from allegations made by Adeniyi Adeyemi, who presented himself as the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council.
During a press conference, Adeyemi accused Gbajabiamila of demanding 48 per cent of the agency’s alleged ₦27.3 billion take-off grant.
He further alleged that the Chief of Staff received ₦400 million through an intermediary and later demanded another ₦200 million to secure presidential approvals for the agency.
The claims triggered widespread public debate and raised questions about how the agency came into existence and whether it had official government approval.
Gbajabiamila has consistently denied all the allegations.
In a sworn statement, he said he had no personal, official or professional relationship with Adeyemi and had never demanded or received money from him or anyone connected with the disputed agency.
The Chief of Staff also denied abusing his office, influencing law enforcement agencies or interfering with investigations.
He further rejected claims linking him to the death of Babatunde Tanimola, whom Adeyemi alleged acted as an intermediary in the transactions.
Gbajabiamila also dismissed allegations that he was involved in an assassination attempt against Adeyemi or that he obstructed investigations by security agencies.
Following the public allegations, President Tinubu directed the ICPC to carry out a full investigation to establish the facts.
The President’s decision was widely seen as an effort to ensure transparency and demonstrate that no public official is above investigation.
The PFIPC itself has become the subject of intense scrutiny after questions emerged over its legal status.
Government officials have maintained that the council was never legally established as a recognised federal agency despite claims by its promoters.
The controversy has also extended to the National Assembly.
The House of Representatives recently set up a 12-member ad hoc committee to investigate how the disputed agency came into existence and how it was reportedly included in the 2026 national budget.
Lawmakers are expected to examine the process through which about ₦1.3 billion was allegedly allocated to the agency in the 2026 Appropriation Act despite concerns over its legal status.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, represented during the committee’s inauguration by the House Majority Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, said the investigation was not politically motivated.
According to him, the objective is to establish the facts and strengthen public confidence in the country’s budgeting process.
He said the House was committed to ensuring accountability and preventing public funds from being allocated to organisations that lack legal backing.
The committee is chaired by Yusuf Gagdi, who assured Nigerians that members would carry out a thorough, fair and impartial investigation.
He promised that the panel would examine all relevant documents and hear from individuals connected with the matter before presenting its findings to the House.
Apart from the ongoing ICPC investigation, the matter has also moved to the courts.
Last week, Gbajabiamila filed a ₦15 billion defamation suit against Adeyemi at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja.
The Chief of Staff is seeking ₦10 billion in general damages and another ₦5 billion in aggravated damages over what he described as false and malicious allegations.
He is also asking the court to award ₦200 million as the cost of the legal action.
In addition, Gbajabiamila wants the court to order Adeyemi to publish a public retraction and apology in five national newspapers as well as on all social media platforms where the allegations were circulated.
His legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Kemi Pinheiro, argued that the allegations had seriously damaged his reputation and were unsupported by evidence.
Meanwhile, Adeyemi has also encountered legal troubles.
He was arrested by the police in Osun State after a court issued a bench warrant for his arrest when he failed to appear for his scheduled arraignment in an earlier case.
The circumstances surrounding that case are separate from the ongoing ICPC investigation but have added another layer to the controversy.
The unfolding developments have attracted significant public attention because they involve one of the most powerful officials in the Presidency, allegations of corruption, questions over the creation of a government agency and the use of public funds.
Anti-corruption agencies, lawmakers and the courts are now handling different aspects of the matter simultaneously.
For now, the ICPC investigation continues, while the House of Representatives prepares to begin its hearings and the courts are expected to hear the defamation case in the coming weeks.