Fake Agency Saga: Reps Panel Clears Gbajabiamila, Exposes Forgery
The House of Representatives has cleared Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, of any involvement in the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC). The panel found no evidence that Gbajabiamila approved, established, or participated in the activities of the purported agency, which was allegedly included in the 2026 Federal Government budget.
What did the House committee find about Gbajabiamila's role?
According to the House Ad Hoc Committee, Gbajabiamila actually raised the alarm about the suspicious organisation. When the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission flagged concerns about suspected fraudulent activities and misuse of institutional materials, the Chief of Staff responded within a day. He contacted the Nigeria Police Force, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Committee Chairman Yusuf Gagdi presented these preliminary findings at a press briefing on Wednesday, televised by TVC. The panel stated that documentary evidence does not establish that Gbajabiamila authorised, approved, established, or participated in the council's activities.
On the contrary, the evidence demonstrates repeated steps to secure investigation, institutional verification and appropriate administrative action, the committee said.
Was the appointment letter for Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi forged?
Yes. The committee established that a letter purportedly appointing Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi as Director-General of the organisation was forged and falsely attributed to the Presidency. State House records confirmed that Gbajabiamila neither issued nor signed the appointment letter. The letterhead was not authentic, and the reference number did not conform to official standards.
The panel also rejected documents presented as a Presidential Executive Order and an Act of the National Assembly. The purported Executive Order No. 5, dated February 24, 2026, was never issued through lawful processes. The alleged Act was never passed by both chambers, assented to by the President, or gazetted.
How did the fake agency get into the federal budget?
This remains a key question. The committee found no valid law, executive order, or administrative instrument establishing the PFIPC. Preliminary financial information linked about 58 bank accounts to identifying details associated with Adeyemi.
Adeyemi had presented himself as the council's Director-General, claiming appointment by Gbajabiamila. He made allegations involving funds and operations. Gbajabiamila denied involvement, which sparked wider questions about how the purported agency secured a budgetary allocation.
What other fake agencies have been uncovered?
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) uncovered another alleged fake government agency: the National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office. This discovery further raised questions about how purported government bodies could operate without lawful authority.
What happens next?
The committee commended Gbajabiamila on a preliminary basis for his security and administrative measures. The investigation continues as lawmakers dig deeper into how these fake agencies infiltrated government structures. This case is a wake-up call for stronger verification systems within Nigeria's budgetary and administrative frameworks.