The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Monday honoured an invitation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission over the ongoing investigation into the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council.
His lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, confirmed the development in a statement, saying the presidential aide appeared before the anti-graft agency in compliance with President Bola Tinubu's directive for a thorough investigation into the matter.
According to Ogunye, Gbajabiamila arrived at the commission's office at about 3pm, answered questions from investigators, gave his statement and subsequently returned to his official duties.
The PFIPC controversy followed allegations by the agency's self-acclaimed Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claimed that the Chief of Staff demanded 48 per cent of the council's alleged ₦27.3bn take-off grant.
Adeyemi also alleged that Gbajabiamila received ₦400m through a proxy and later requested an additional ₦200m to facilitate presidential approvals.
The Chief of Staff has consistently denied the allegations, insisting that he neither knew Adeyemi personally nor had any official or professional dealings with him. He also denied demanding or receiving money, abusing his office or influencing any security agency's investigation.
Gbajabiamila further dismissed claims linking him to the alleged death of Babatunde Tanimola, said to have acted as an intermediary, as well as accusations of involvement in an alleged assassination attempt on Adeyemi.
Following the allegations, President Tinubu directed the ICPC to investigate the matter.
Last week, Gbajabiamila instituted a ₦15bn defamation suit against Adeyemi before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. He is seeking ₦10bn in general damages, ₦5bn in aggravated damages, ₦200m as litigation costs and an order compelling Adeyemi to publish a retraction and apology in five national newspapers and on all social media platforms where the allegations were circulated.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has inaugurated a 12-member ad hoc committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the establishment of the PFIPC and the alleged inclusion of a ₦1.3bn allocation for the agency in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
Speaking during the inauguration, Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, represented by the House Majority Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, said the probe was aimed at uncovering the facts surrounding the controversial allocation and was not politically motivated.
Chairman of the committee, Yusuf Gagdi, assured Nigerians that the panel would carry out a comprehensive and impartial investigation into the matter.
0 Comments