The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Esther Walson-Jack, has told the House of Representatives that the office space occupied by the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) was officially allocated to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), not to the disputed council.
Walson-Jack made the disclosure on Monday while appearing before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the circumstances surrounding the establishment of the PFIPC and the reported allocation of ₦1.3 billion to the council in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
The revelation is the latest development in the growing controversy surrounding the PFIPC, which has been the subject of multiple investigations by the National Assembly and anti-corruption agencies following allegations that it operated without legal backing.
According to the Head of Service, the office in question is located within the Federal Secretariat complex in Abuja.
She explained that the space was allocated to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation under the normal administrative process and not to the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council.
Although she did not provide details on how the disputed council came to occupy or use the office, her testimony has added another layer to the ongoing investigation by lawmakers.
The House committee is examining how the council was established, how it allegedly secured office accommodation within the Federal Secretariat and how it found its way into the 2026 national budget.
Lawmakers are also investigating reports that about ₦1.3 billion was allocated to the council despite claims that it was never legally established as a federal government agency.
The committee is expected to determine whether due process was followed and whether any public officials violated existing laws or administrative procedures.
The PFIPC controversy first gained national attention after Adeniyi Adeyemi presented himself as the Director-General of the council and made a series of allegations against President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Adeyemi alleged that Gbajabiamila demanded 48 per cent of the council’s reported ₦27.3 billion take-off grant.
He also claimed that the Chief of Staff received ₦400 million through an intermediary and later requested another ₦200 million to facilitate presidential approvals.
Gbajabiamila strongly denied the allegations.
In a statement issued on June 11, 2026, the Chief of Staff said he had no knowledge of Adeyemi and insisted that the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council did not exist as a recognised government agency.
He disclosed that he had petitioned security agencies as far back as October 2025 after forged appointment letters linked to the council surfaced.
According to him, the forged documents falsely suggested that appointments had been made into the disputed organisation.
Gbajabiamila said his petition prompted investigations by security agencies, which later led to criminal charges against Adeyemi.
The Chief of Staff stated that Adeyemi was subsequently arraigned before the Federal High Court on charges bordering on forgery, impersonation and obtaining by false pretence.
He has consistently maintained that he has never had any personal, official or professional relationship with Adeyemi.
In response, Adeyemi rejected all the allegations against him.
He insisted that he had committed no offence and expressed confidence that he would clear his name during the court proceedings.
He also called for an independent investigation into the controversy, arguing that all parties connected to the matter should be thoroughly investigated.
The allegations and counter-allegations prompted President Bola Tinubu to order an independent investigation into the entire matter.
The President directed relevant security and anti-corruption agencies to determine the true status of the PFIPC and investigate all allegations made by the parties involved.
As part of the ongoing investigation, Adeyemi was arrested, questioned by security agencies and later released.
Separately, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) also invited Gbajabiamila for questioning.
The Chief of Staff honoured the invitation, gave a statement to investigators and later returned to his official duties.
His lawyer said he cooperated fully with investigators in compliance with the President’s directive.
Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has also appeared before the House committee investigating the matter.
The apex bank informed lawmakers that two foreign currency accounts opened in connection with the disputed council remained inactive from the day they were created.
According to the CBN, the accounts, one denominated in United States dollars and the other in British pounds sterling, were opened following a request from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
However, the bank explained that the accounts never became operational because the council failed to provide authorised signatories required for activation.
As a result, the accounts received no deposits, processed no withdrawals and recorded no inflows or outflows throughout their existence.
The House committee is expected to continue hearing from government officials and examining documents connected to the controversy.
Chairman of the committee, Yusuf Gagdi, has assured Nigerians that the investigation will be transparent, thorough and free from political influence.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, had earlier said the investigation was aimed at uncovering the truth and ensuring accountability in the management of public resources.
With testimonies now coming from the Head of the Civil Service, the Central Bank of Nigeria and other government institutions, lawmakers are expected to continue piecing together the events surrounding the PFIPC before presenting their findings and recommendations to the House of Representatives.