The House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) has cleared the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, of involvement in the organisation’s creation or operations.
The committee’s chairman, Yusuf Gagdi (APC, Plateau), disclosed this in the panel’s preliminary report released in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to the report, the committee found no evidence connecting Gbajabiamila to the establishment or running of PFIPC. Gagdi said the evidence before the panel showed that the Chief of Staff neither authorised nor approved the organisation.
The finding contradicts allegations made by Adeniyi Adeyemi, who presented himself as PFIPC’s director-general. Adeyemi had accused Gbajabiamila of facilitating the organisation’s establishment and alleged that he received N400 million as a bribe and demanded an additional N200 million.
Gagdi said the committee found that a letter purportedly appointing Adeyemi as PFIPC director-general was fabricated. The document was attributed to Gbajabiamila, but the committee found that he neither issued nor signed it.
The chairman also said the letterhead and reference number on the document did not match official State House correspondence.
Rather than being involved in PFIPC, the committee found that Gbajabiamila took steps to investigate the organisation after receiving an alert about suspected fraudulent activities.
“The chief of staff acted within one day of receiving an alert from the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission over suspected fraudulent activities,” Gagdi said.
He added that Gbajabiamila subsequently contacted security and investigative agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, State Security Service, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Office of the National Security Adviser.
The committee preliminarily commended the Chief of Staff for what it described as timely administrative and security measures. However, Gagdi stressed that the report was preliminary and did not represent the final position or decision of the House of Representatives.
Committee Finds No Legal Basis for PFIPC
The panel also found no valid Act of the National Assembly, executive order or other lawful instrument establishing PFIPC.
Gagdi said the investigation uncovered what appeared to be fabricated presidential correspondence, a purported executive order and an altered document presented as an Act of Parliament.
The committee identified Adeyemi as the principal person associated with the purported organisation and recommended further investigation into financial transactions linked to it.
Despite lacking a valid legal basis, PFIPC was captured in the 2026 budget and allocated office space at the Federal Secretariat Complex, according to the committee.
The organisation also reportedly maintained accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria and obtained an official vehicle bearing a government registration number.
Gagdi said the organisation gained access to government facilities and other privileges through allegedly forged documents and fraudulent means.
The committee is expected to submit its final report to the House after completing its investigation.
