The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has cleared President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, of wrongdoing in the controversy surrounding the alleged fake Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), while recommending the prosecution of the individual at the centre of the scandal.
The anti-corruption agency, in its interim investigation report submitted to President Tinubu on Thursday, said its findings showed that the purported Director-General of the PFIPC, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, was never appointed by the Federal Government and allegedly relied on forged documents to operate a non-existent government institution.
ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Aliyu (SAN), who presented the findings to journalists at the State House, Abuja, said the investigation established that the PFIPC was never created through any law, executive order or any recognised government process.
According to the commission, Adeyemi allegedly fabricated appointment documents, a government gazette and other legal instruments to create the impression that the organisation was an official federal agency. Investigators also found that he allegedly established additional fictitious bodies, including the FCT Investment Promotion Agency and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency and Public Private Partnership.
The investigation followed a directive by President Tinubu on July 7 after Adeyemi alleged that he paid N400 million to Gbajabiamila to secure appointment as Director-General of the purported agency. The ICPC was given 30 days to investigate the allegation and submit its findings.
The commission said its probe found no evidence linking Gbajabiamila or the Presidency to the alleged scheme, adding that the fake appointment letter presented by Adeyemi did not originate from the Presidency.
ICPC also disclosed that no Federal Government funds were approved or released to the fake agency, and that there were no identified security breaches involving the State House or the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Investigators, however, identified weaknesses in government verification procedures and inter-agency coordination, which allegedly allowed the fake organisation to operate for a period of time.
The commission said Adeyemi allegedly gained access to the former office of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC) after unlawfully entering the premises and used the location to carry out activities linked to the fake agency.
ICPC further stated that some public officials across various government institutions may have failed to carry out adequate verification checks, contributing to the continuation of the alleged impersonation scheme.
Officials from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Budget Office and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) were reportedly identified during the investigation.
The anti-graft agency recommended the prosecution of Adeyemi, administrative action against officials whose negligence may have facilitated the operation, and reforms aimed at improving internal controls and verification systems across government institutions.
Meanwhile, the Presidency said President Tinubu would review the report and consult with the Attorney-General of the Federation before determining further action. The administration also said the decision to make the findings public was in line with its commitment to transparency.
The controversy also came under scrutiny before a House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the matter, where 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 purported governing board alongside several senior government officials.
Mohammed said the FRSC was misled by what appeared to be official government documents, a federal-style website and verified statutory payments made through the REMITA platform before issuing official number plates to seven vehicles linked to the organisation.
The vehicles reportedly included luxury and utility models such as a 2024 Lexus LX armoured vehicle, Toyota Land Cruiser models and Toyota Hilux vehicles.
The FRSC boss acknowledged gaps in the agency’s verification process and said measures had been initiated to recover the issued number plates while strengthening procedures to prevent similar incidents.
However, lawmakers questioned why basic verification checks did not expose inconsistencies in the documents, particularly the inclusion of the President and several top government officials as members of the purported board of an organisation that had no legal foundation.
The ICPC said the investigation would continue alongside broader efforts by relevant authorities to strengthen government systems and prevent future cases of impersonation and fraudulent representation.
