Probe reveals forged appointment letter, fictitious investment council, and a web of impersonation that exploited loopholes in government systems
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has exonerated President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, from allegations linking him to the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), declaring that the organisation at the centre of the scandal never legally existed.
The anti-corruption agency disclosed that the man who claimed to be the Director-General of the PFIPC, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, was never appointed by the Federal Government and allegedly operated with forged documents to create the impression of a legitimate government institution.
ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Aliyu (SAN), made the revelations on Thursday while briefing journalists after presenting the commission’s interim investigation report to President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The investigation followed a directive issued by the President on July 7 after Adeyemi alleged that he paid N400 million to Gbajabiamila to secure his appointment as Director-General of the PFIPC. The ICPC was given 30 days to investigate the claims and submit its findings.
Presenting the outcome of the probe, Aliyu said investigators found no evidence to support Adeyemi’s allegations, stressing that neither the PFIPC nor its leadership had any legal backing from the Federal Government.
According to him, the commission established that Adeyemi was never appointed by any government authority and that the PFIPC was not created through any law, executive order or valid governmental instrument.
He explained that the appointment letter displayed by Adeyemi, alongside other documents used to promote the agency, were forged.
The ICPC chairman further revealed that the group allegedly relied on a falsified government gazette and fabricated legal instruments to portray itself as a genuine federal institution.
Investigators also uncovered what they described as a brazen takeover of facilities formerly occupied by the defunct Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC). According to the commission, Adeyemi allegedly gained access to the premises by breaking the locks and subsequently used the office as the operational base of the fake agency.
Aliyu said the suspect then embarked on widespread impersonation and false representation, presenting himself as a senior government official while carrying out the activities of the non-existent organisation.
Beyond the PFIPC, the commission said its investigation uncovered two additional agencies allegedly created by Adeyemi—the FCT Investment Promotion Agency and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency and Public Private Partnership.
The ICPC also revealed that Adeyemi later altered the name of the PFIPC to the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, a move investigators believe was aimed at expanding the scope of the fictitious institution and creating further legitimacy.
Despite the sophistication of the scheme, Aliyu stressed that investigators found no evidence that federal funds were approved or released to either the PFIPC or the PEAC.
He noted that the forged appointment letter did not originate from the Presidency and added that investigators found no weaknesses within the systems of the State House or the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
However, the commission identified significant lapses in verification procedures and inter-agency coordination that allegedly enabled the operation to continue unchecked.
According to Aliyu, officials connected to several government institutions, including the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Budget Office and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), were identified during the investigation.
While the commission did not accuse the officials of direct involvement, it stated that acts of negligence and failure to conduct due diligence contributed to the success of the scheme.
As part of its recommendations, the ICPC called for the prosecution of Adeyemi, disciplinary action against public officers whose negligence facilitated the operation of the fake agency, and comprehensive reforms across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to strengthen internal controls and verification systems.
Speaking on behalf of the Presidency, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, said Tinubu would review the findings and consult the Attorney-General of the Federation before taking further action.
Dare added that the President ordered the report to be made public in the interest of transparency, while ongoing investigations by the National Assembly, the Nigeria Police Force and other agencies would complement the process.
Meanwhile, fresh details emerged during proceedings before the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee investigating the matter.
The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, disclosed that the fake agency’s website listed President Tinubu as Chairman of its Governing Board and included several top government officials as board members.
According to him, those listed included the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Attorney-General of the Federation and a number of cabinet ministers.
Mohammed explained that the agency’s website, coupled with what appeared to be authentic government correspondence and successfully verified statutory payments through the REMITA platform, convinced FRSC officials that the organisation was genuine.
As a result, the commission issued official government number plates for seven vehicles linked to the organisation.
He stated that Adeyemi personally delivered the requests, presented himself as Director-General and directed officials to a website carrying a federal government domain that appeared consistent with a legitimate public institution.
The FRSC boss admitted shortcomings in the agency’s verification process but described the incident as an isolated case. He said efforts had already begun to recover all number plates issued to the organisation while internal verification procedures were being strengthened.
However, Chairman of the House Ad Hoc Committee, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, questioned how the irregularities escaped scrutiny, arguing that it should have raised suspicion that the President was listed as chairman of the board alongside virtually every key federal official.
Documents submitted before the committee showed that the seven vehicles registered for the organisation included a 2024 Lexus LX armoured vehicle, two Toyota Land Cruiser SUVs, a Toyota Hilux GR and three Toyota Hilux Adventure vehicles.
Mohammed nevertheless maintained that all the vehicles underwent physical chassis verification and matched the documentation presented before the federal government number plates were issued.
The unfolding scandal has exposed vulnerabilities within government verification systems and raised fresh concerns about how a non-existent agency allegedly operated in plain sight while interacting with several public institutions before eventually being uncovered by investigators.
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