Reps Panel Clears Gbajabiamila Fake Agency: CoS Exonerated

• A House of Representatives panel has cleared Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila of involvement with the fake Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
• The committee found Gbajabiamila proactively alerted security agencies within a day after concerns about the PFIPC were raised by the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission.
• Investigators uncovered a forged appointment letter for the PFIPC's Director-General, falsely attributed to the Presidency and bearing Gbajabiamila's purported signature.
• Documents presented as a Presidential Executive Order No. 5 and an Act of the National Assembly establishing the PFIPC were also determined to be fraudulent.
• The panel concluded that no lawful authority exists for the PFIPC, and preliminary financial data linked approximately 58 bank accounts to the entity.

The committee concluded unequivocally that no valid law, executive order, administrative instrument, or other lawful authority exists for an institution known as the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.

A House of Representatives ad hoc committee has officially exonerated Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to the President, from any involvement in the activities of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC). The parliamentary panel, tasked with investigating the alleged inclusion of this organization within the Federal Government’s budget framework, concluded that there was no evidence suggesting Gbajabiamila had authorized, established, or participated in the council's operations.

Chairman Yusuf Gagdi publicly announced these preliminary findings during a televised press briefing on Wednesday. The committee's investigation revealed that far from being complicit, Gbajabiamila took swift and decisive action upon learning of concerns surrounding the PFIPC. The Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) initially raised alarms regarding suspected fraudulent activities and the misuse of official materials by the organization.

Responding within a single day, the Chief of Staff immediately contacted multiple key security and investigative bodies, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He also initiated administrative verification processes through relevant government institutions. The committee noted that Gbajabiamila continued to seek further investigations and appropriate administrative action as additional concerns emerged, particularly those related to a proposed world investment summit, leading the lawmakers to commend his proactive security and administrative measures.

The parliamentary inquiry meticulously uncovered a sophisticated scheme involving forged documents designed to lend legitimacy to the non-existent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council. A letter purportedly appointing Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi as the PFIPC's Director-General was definitively identified as a forgery, falsely attributing authority and a signature to the Presidency and Femi Gbajabiamila.

State House records confirmed that Gbajabiamila neither issued nor signed this appointment letter. Further scrutiny revealed that the letterhead used was not an authentic State House design, and its reference number did not align with official government referencing systems. The committee also rejected other crucial documents presented by the PFIPC, including a fabricated Presidential Executive Order No. 5, dated February 24, 2026, which was never issued or approved through the legitimate processes of the Presidency.

Similarly, a purported Act of the National Assembly, claimed to establish the organization, was found to be entirely fraudulent. This document had never been passed by both legislative chambers, assented to by the President, or gazetted as a valid Act of the Federation. Investigators determined that parts of an instrument belonging to another legitimate institution had been electronically altered, mutilated, or substituted to create the false impression of parliamentary endorsement. The committee concluded unequivocally that no valid law, executive order, administrative instrument, or other lawful authority exists for an institution known as the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, while preliminary financial information linked approximately 58 bank accounts to the entity.

This investigation into the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council underscores the critical importance of rigorous due diligence in verifying the legitimacy of government-linked entities and official documentation. The findings highlight how easily sophisticated forgeries, including fake executive orders and purported acts of parliament, can be created to deceive and defraud.

For legal and compliance professionals, this case serves as a stark reminder of the necessity to scrutinize official instruments and appointments, particularly when dealing with newly emerging or obscure government-affiliated bodies. The swift and documented response by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, immediately alerting multiple security and investigative agencies upon being informed of potential fraud, sets a crucial precedent for how high-ranking officials should react to such allegations. The Reps panel's clearance of Gbajabiamila regarding the fake agency reinforces the value of transparent and proactive engagement with law enforcement when faced with suspected illicit activities, thereby strengthening institutional integrity and public trust.

This case highlights the importance of rigorous due diligence in verifying the legitimacy of government-linked entities and official documents like executive orders or appointment letters. Lawyers and compliance officers should note the parliamentary committee's findings regarding forged instruments and the swift, documented actions taken by a high-ranking official when alerted to potential fraud, serving as a precedent for responding to similar allegations.

Source: Original reporting via The Punch