The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has questioned President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, over claims by the Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi, that he collected a N400 million bribe to secure his appointment.
In a statement on Monday, Mr Gbajabiamila’s lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, confirmed that the Chief of Staff honoured the ICPC’s invitation over Mr Adeyemi’s allegation that he received N400 million to facilitate his appointment as head of the controversial agency.
“In full cooperation with the ICPC, acting as directed by the President of Nigeria, I hereby confirm that my client, Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President of Nigeria, responded to the invitation of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and appeared at about 15:00hrs on Monday, July 20, 2026, as part of the ongoing investigation into the activities of the ‘PFIPC’ fake agency, among others,” Mr Ogunye said.
The lawyer added, “My client (Mr Gbajabiamila) gave his testimony, responded to questions accordingly and has returned to his duty post.”
Mr Adeyemi, who accused the Chief of Staff of taking the N400 million bribe, was arrested shortly after the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court issued a warrant for his arrest last Tuesday over his failure to appear for arraignment.
The Presidency had earlier described Mr Adeyemi as a con artist running a fake agency, despite evidence showing the PFIPC received funding through the national budget and operated from office space inside the Federal Secretariat.
Following public reaction to the bribery claims, President Bola Tinubu directed the ICPC to investigate Mr Gbajabiamila and others linked to the PFIPC bribery and forgery allegations.
Mr Adeyemi’s arrest and Mr Gbajabiamila’s appearance before the anti-graft agency followed the President’s order for a probe into the PFIPC controversy and related issues.
Since his arrest last week, Mr Adeyemi has not made any public statement. However, during his last interview with Channels TV on Monday, he repeated his allegation that the Chief of Staff collected a N400 million bribe in return for appointing him as director-general of the agency now described as fake.
