LAGOS — Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, declared on Saturday, September 26, 2026, that comprehensive security and anti-corruption investigations by the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have completely exonerated him of creating or endorsing the fraudulent Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).
Speaking in Lagos during the 2026 Gbaja Mega Empowerment Programme in his native Surulere constituency, Gbajabiamila addressed the months-long political controversy that trailed allegations linking his office to Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew—the suspect accused of posing as the Director-General of the non-existent council.
Reflecting on the public scrutiny, Gbajabiamila described the episode as a calculated attempt by political detractors to smear his integrity, expressing gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for insisting on due process rather than yielding to calls for hasty administrative action.
“The past few months have tested me in ways I never expected. Stories were written, strange accusations were made, lies were told, and my integrity was questioned,” Gbajabiamila told the crowd. “At the end of all the investigations, the Nigerian Police, the DSS, the ICPC cleared me of any wrongdoing, and the investigative reports are in the public domain. No amount of money, no amount of blackmail or lies, whether sponsored from within or outside, will detract me from my work and the work Mr. President has given me to do.”
Background of the PFIPC Probe
The controversy erupted after it was uncovered that the PFIPC—also referred to in certain forged documents as the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council—had operated unlawfully out of official quarters at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja for nearly two years under Adeyemi.
Subsequent investigative findings by the ICPC and a House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee revealed that:
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Documentary Forgery: The appointment letter presented by Adeyemi bearing Gbajabiamila’s purported signature was completely fabricated, utilizing irregular letterhead formats and reference numbers inconsistent with State House administrative standards.
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No Statutory Existence: Neither an Executive Order nor an Act of Parliament ever established the PFIPC. The suspect hijacked the operational framework and former identity of the defunct Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC).
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Proactive Action: Evidence established that upon discovering the fraudulent scheme, Gbajabiamila personally issued an official public disclaimer on June 11, 2026, alerting security agencies, foreign diplomatic missions, and financial institutions.
₦1.15bn Mega Empowerment Package
Turning to constituency development, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives unveiled a ₦1.15 billion empowerment intervention targeted at over 5,000 residents across Surulere.
Highlighting the administration’s commitment to clean energy and local employment, the distribution featured:
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Direct cash grants of ₦250,000 distributed to 3,905 beneficiaries, and ₦500,000 grants to 348 small business owners.
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61 e-hailing electric cars, 50 electric tricycles, 60 minibuses, 100 laptops, four 18-seater buses, two security patrol vans, and a fully equipped medical ambulance.
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Announcements to construct electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the constituency to lower transport costs and support green mobility.
