ICPC Clears Gbajabiamila in Fake Council Scandal

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has cleared the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, of any wrongdoing in the controversy surrounding the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).

ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), disclosed this on Wednesday while presenting the commission’s interim report on the investigation in Abuja.

The presentation came 30 days after President Bola Tinubu directed the anti-graft agency to probe the activities of the alleged fake council.

Aliyu said he had submitted the interim report to the President and briefed him on the findings of the investigation.

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“I have just submitted the interim report and briefed Mr President accordingly. The President took the right decision in the spirit of transparency and accountability and directed me to address the media for the benefit of Nigerians,” he said.

According to the ICPC chairman, investigators discovered that Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew was never appointed by the Federal Government or any authorised government institution.

He added that the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, also referred to as the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, was never established through any law, executive order or valid government instrument.

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Aliyu said the appointment letter presented by Adeyemi, alongside other documents used in running the organisation, were forged.

“The appointment letter presented by Mr Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew was completely forged, alongside similar documents used to perpetrate the illegal activities of the fake agency,” he stated.

The investigation also revealed that the purported council allegedly adopted the identity, offices and operational structures of the former Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC), with Adeyemi allegedly presenting himself as its Director-General through false representation and impersonation.

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The ICPC identified gaps in verification processes, inter-agency oversight and government procedures, which it said were exploited through negligence and possible connivance.

However, the commission said it found no wrongdoing in the internal processes of the State House and the Central Bank of Nigeria, describing their systems as “above board”.

Aliyu also stated that the investigation found no evidence that public funds were approved or released to the fake council or the former PEAC.

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