The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says it has probed the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, concerning its investigation into the activities of a purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).
The commission stated that it invited Mr Gbajabiamila to help establish how the organisation operated for about two years from within the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, despite not being established by any law or presidential proclamation.
It said Mr Gbajabiamila fielded questions from investigators when he visited its headquarters in Abuja on Monday, but failed to give more details regarding his revelation.
“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 Mr Okor Odey Head, Media and Public Communications of the ICPC, in a statement on Tuesday.
The agency clarified that Mr Gbajabiamila was not arrested, stating that 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 statement came a day after Mr Gbajabiamila’s lawyer, Mr Jiti Ogunye, announced on Monday that he had appeared before the commission’s investigators.
Mr Ogunye said Mr Gbajabiamila visited the commission at about 3.00 p.m. on Monday, in full cooperation with the ICPC, acting as directed by President Tinubu.
“My client gave his testimony, responded to questions accordingly, and has returned to his duty post,” Mr Ogunye wrote.
Mr Tinubu ordered the ICPC earlier this month to investigate the fake agency scandal and submit its findings within 30 days.
The federal government disowned the PFIPC as a fraudulent entity allegedly operated by Mr Adeniyi Adeyemi, who is accused of posing as its director-general.
The scandal came to public attention after Mr Adeyemi allegedly claimed that he paid N400 million in bribes to facilitate the establishment and operation of the purported agency, including money paid to an individual he believed was Mr Gbajabiamila. Using official government documents, the organisation allegedly secured office space at the Federal Secretariat, obtained budgetary allocation, opened accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria and employed public servants.
Mr Adeyemi was recently apprehended by the Nigerian Police Force.