The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has honoured an invitation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) as part of the ongoing investigation into the activities of the disputed Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).

His lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Monday, saying Gbajabiamila appeared before the anti-corruption agency in compliance with President Bola Tinubu’s directive.

“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.

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

The PFIPC controversy arose after the self-acclaimed director-general of the disputed agency, Adeniyi Adeyemi, alleged during a press conference that Gbajabiamila demanded 48 per cent from the agency’s ₦27.3 billion take-off grant.

Adeyemi also alleged that the Chief of Staff received ₦400 million through a proxy and requested an additional ₦200 million to facilitate presidential approvals.

Gbajabiamila has denied the allegations in a statement on oath, maintaining that he had no personal, official or professional relationship with Adeyemi.

He also denied demanding or receiving any money, abusing his office or interfering with law enforcement agencies.

The Chief of Staff further denied any involvement in the alleged death of Babatunde Tanimola, whom Adeyemi claimed acted as an intermediary, as well as allegations linking him to an alleged assassination attempt on the defendant or interference with investigations by security agencies.

Following the allegations, President Bola Tinubu directed the ICPC to investigate the matter.

Last week, Gbajabiamila instituted a ₦15 billion defamation suit against Adeyemi at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, over the kickback allegations.

In the suit, he is seeking ₦10 billion in general damages, ₦5 billion in aggravated damages, ₦200 million as the cost of the action, and an order directing Adeyemi to publish a retraction and apology in five national newspapers and across all social media platforms where the alleged defamatory statements were published.

Through his legal team led by Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), he described the allegations as false, malicious and defamatory.

Adeyemi was also arrested by the police in Osun State after a court issued a bench warrant for his arrest following his failure to appear for his scheduled arraignment.

Reps Inaugurate Probe Committee

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has inaugurated a 12-member ad hoc committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the establishment of the disputed agency and the process through which it was included in the 2026 budget.

The committee will also investigate the alleged allocation of ₦1.3 billion to what lawmakers described as an illegal government agency in the 2026 Appropriation Act.

Speaking during the inauguration, Speaker of the House Abbas Tajudeen, represented by the House Majority Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, said the investigation was intended to establish the facts surrounding the allocation rather than serve any political purpose.

The committee is chaired by Yusuf Gagdi, who assured Nigerians that the panel would conduct a thorough and impartial investigation. (Channels TV, excluding headline)

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