PFIPC: Gbajabiamila Not Arrested, Voluntarily Honoured Invitation – ICPC

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has clarified that the chief of staff to the president, Femi Gbajabiamila, was not arrested by the Commission, but voluntarily honoured an invitation as part of investigations into the alleged fraudulent Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).

The clarification followed reports and speculations surrounding Gbajabiamila’s visit to the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Head of Media and Public Communications, John Okor Odey, the ICPC said the chief of staff appeared before its investigators to give a statement in connection with the ongoing probe.

According to the Commission, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had directed it to investigate the circumstances under which the PFIPC—an organisation the presidency has since disowned as fraudulent—allegedly operated from the Federal Secretariat in Abuja for about two years.

The investigation focuses on the activities of Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who allegedly presented himself as the director-general of the purported Council during the period.

The ICPC said Gbajabiamila arrived at its headquarters in the afternoon, responded to questions from investigators and departed after the session.

The Commission emphasized that his appearance was strictly on invitation and should not be misconstrued as an arrest.

“The Chief of Staff’s visit was on the invitation of investigators and consistent with the Commission’s ongoing efforts to gather all relevant facts in the matter. He was not arrested; he simply willingly honoured an invitation,” the statement read.

The anti-corruption agency said investigations into the matter are ongoing and assured that further updates would be communicated as appropriate.