ICPC questions Gbajabiamila over fake agency issue

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) confirmed on Monday that it questioned Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu. This questioning is part of the investigation into a supposed Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).

The ICPC invited Mr Gbajabiamila to clarify how the PFIPC operated for about two years from the Federal Secretariat in Abuja. This organization was never set up by any law or presidential order.

Mr Gbajabiamila answered questions when he visited the ICPC headquarters in Abuja on Monday. “Mr Gbajabiamila arrived at the Commission in the afternoon and spent some time attending to enquiries from investigators, after which he departed the premises,” said Okor Odey, Head of Media and Public Communications at the ICPC, in a statement on Tuesday.

The commission confirmed that Mr Gbajabiamila was not arrested. They said his appearance “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 statement added. “Investigations continue, and further updates will be communicated as appropriate.”

The ICPC did not share details about the questioning session with Mr Gbajabiamila. The statement from the ICPC came just a day after his lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, announced that Mr Gbajabiamila had appeared before the commission’s investigators.

Mr Ogunye said Mr Gbajabiamila arrived at the commission around 3.00 p.m. on Monday, cooperating fully with the ICPC as directed by President Tinubu. “My client gave his testimony, responded to questions accordingly, and has returned to his duty post,” Mr Ogunye wrote.

Earlier this month, President Tinubu ordered the ICPC to investigate the fake agency scandal. He asked for a report within 30 days. The federal government has disowned the PFIPC, calling it a fraudulent group run by Adeniyi Adeyemi, who is accused of pretending to be its director-general.

This scandal came to light after Mr Adeyemi claimed he paid N400 million in bribes to set up and run the fake agency. He also claimed to have paid money to someone he believed was Mr Gbajabiamila.

Mr Gbajabiamila has denied taking any bribe from Mr Adeyemi. He stated that he was the one who reported Mr Adeyemi and his actions to the police. These allegations have led to investigations into how this fake agency operated within the federal government without any legal backing.

The organization allegedly used official government documents to secure office space at the Federal Secretariat, get budget allocations, open accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria, and hire public servants. The ICPC is looking into how these activities were possible.

The controversy has also led Mr Gbajabiamila to take legal action. He has filed a N15 billion defamation suit against Mr Adeyemi, demanding a retraction of the bribery claims and an apology.

Mr Adeyemi faces eight charges related to the fake agency before the Federal High Court in Abuja. The police have accused him and two other people, who are still at large, of conspiracy and forgery involving several official documents.

One of the charges claims Mr Adeyemi falsely presented himself as the Director-General of the PFIPC. The court has issued a warrant for his arrest after he failed to show up for trial several times. He is currently in police custody.

The ICPC emphasized that Mr Gbajabiamila’s visit was not an arrest and that he willingly came in for questioning. “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 commission stated.

The investigation is ongoing, and the ICPC said further updates will be shared as needed.