The House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee investigating the activities of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) has cleared the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, of allegations that he authorised, established or participated in the activities of the organisation.
The committee, chaired by Rep. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, said its preliminary findings indicated that the PFIPC was not lawfully established by the Federal Government, while several documents allegedly used to give the organisation presidential and legislative legitimacy were forged, fabricated or altered.
According to the committee, a purported appointment letter naming Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi as Director-General of the PFIPC and allegedly bearing Gbajabiamila’s authority and signature was not issued or signed by the Chief of Staff or the Presidency.
The lawmakers said verification conducted at the State House established that no such appointment had been made or approved by the Presidency.
They further found that the letterhead used was not authentic State House letterhead, while the reference number on the document was inconsistent with the Presidency’s official referencing system.
The committee consequently made a preliminary finding that the purported appointment letter was fabricated and falsely attributed to the Presidency.
Rather than being linked to the alleged scheme, the committee said documents before it showed that Gbajabiamila took steps to facilitate investigations after concerns were brought to his attention.
It said that following an alert from the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) over suspected fraudulent activities and misuse of institutional materials, the Chief of Staff communicated with security and investigative agencies within a day.
The agencies contacted included the Nigeria Police Force, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The committee also said Gbajabiamila initiated administrative verification through relevant government institutions and subsequently requested further investigation when additional concerns emerged, including issues surrounding a proposed World Investment Summit.
The lawmakers stated that the evidence before them did not establish that the Chief of Staff authorised, approved, established or participated in the activities of the purported organisation.
Fake Executive Order uncovered
The committee said it uncovered a purported Presidential Executive Order No. 5, dated February 24, 2026, which was allegedly used to confer legal authority on the organisation.
It, however, said evidence obtained during the investigation indicated that the document was neither an authentic Executive Order nor issued or approved through the lawful processes of the Presidency.
The committee described the alleged fabrication of a presidential instrument as a serious matter capable of undermining the authority and integrity of the Nigerian state.
Alleged mutilation of National Assembly document
The lawmakers also said they uncovered a document presented as an Act of the National Assembly establishing the PFIPC.
According to the committee, the document was never passed by both chambers of the National Assembly, assented to by the President or gazetted as an Act of the Federation.
It further alleged that portions of a document relating to another institution were electronically altered, mutilated or substituted to create the impression that the National Assembly had established the purported agency.
The committee described the development as particularly grave, stressing that no individual or organisation had the authority to manufacture legislative authority through the alteration or fabrication of official documents.
Fake State House letter allegedly used for government code
The investigation also uncovered a letter dated November 7, 2024, purportedly written by the State House to the Accountant-General of the Federation seeking an administrative code for the PFIPC.
The letter was allegedly signed by one Akambi Adewale, described as a Director of Administration and Support Services.
However, the committee said verification at the State House showed that the office and directorate mentioned in the letter did not exist in the stated form, while no officer known as Akambi Adewale was found to have served in the claimed capacity.
The lawmakers therefore suspected that fictitious names, offices and official designations were deployed to mislead a Federal Government financial institution.
Accountant-General, Budget Office under scrutiny
The committee said the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation confirmed that its response to the purported State House request was authentic, although the originating request was allegedly forged.
It also said the Accountant-General's office acknowledged that its response ought not to have been released to Adeyemi or any other unauthorised person and should have been transmitted through an authenticated official channel.
The committee said it was investigating whether the incident resulted from negligence, failure to comply with verification requirements, breach of correspondence procedures or deliberate facilitation.
The Budget Office of the Federation is also being scrutinised over how the purported organisation gained recognition within the Federal Budget Framework despite allegedly lacking lawful status.
Fake agency occupied Federal Secretariat office
The lawmakers further found that the purported PFIPC occupied office space within the Federal Secretariat Complex without lawful allocation from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
According to the committee, part of an accommodation previously allocated to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation was subsequently made available to the purported organisation by some officials without lawful authority.
It said the occupation of the facility may have helped the organisation create an appearance of legitimacy as a Federal Government institution.
39 persons allegedly recruited
The committee disclosed that about 39 people were allegedly presented as employees of the purported organisation.
It said it was examining their recruitment processes, appointment letters, identity cards, salaries and allowances, as well as allegations that some applicants may have been required to make payments in exchange for employment.
The lawmakers said the investigation would distinguish between individuals who were allegedly deceived and those who knowingly participated in or benefited from the activities under investigation.
58 bank accounts linked to network
A major aspect of the investigation, according to the committee, involved a network of bank accounts allegedly linked to Adeyemi, who also appeared in some records as Adeyemi Matthew.
The committee said preliminary financial information indicated that details associated with Adeyemi were linked to about 58 bank accounts, more than 30 of which were reportedly operated in the names of different agencies, companies, foundations or related entities.
It said it was still reconciling registration records, account mandates, beneficial ownership details and transaction histories.
The committee, however, cautioned that the identification of the accounts and entities did not mean that all of them had been established to be involved in unlawful activities.
N400m transaction under investigation
The lawmakers also disclosed an alleged N400 million transaction involving a company that reportedly paid the money to Adeyemi in four instalments.
The company allegedly claimed that it was induced to make the payments after being promised a contract relating to the renovation, furnishing or improvement of a residence purportedly allocated to Adeyemi in his claimed official capacity.
The committee said it was tracing the destinations of the funds, the account holders and beneficial owners, while also investigating the ownership and status of the property said to have been presented as an official residence.
It stressed that criminal liability had not been established against any individual and that all persons involved remained entitled to fair hearing and due process.
Reps warn against impersonation of Presidency, National Assembly
The committee warned against the alleged fabrication of presidential and legislative documents, saying such acts pose a threat to the integrity of Nigeria’s constitutional institutions.
It said the National Assembly could not allow its legislative authority to be counterfeited, just as the Presidency should not be impersonated with impunity.
The committee identified Adeyemi as the principal individual associated with the representation and operation of the purported organisation and a wider network of related entities.
It, however, emphasised that its findings were preliminary and did not constitute a final determination of criminal guilt.
Final report may determine prosecution
The committee recommended that relevant security and anti-corruption agencies conclude their investigations and prosecute any person against whom sufficient admissible evidence is established.
It also called for the tracing, preservation, freezing and recovery of proceeds of any unlawful activity established by the investigation, subject to applicable laws and judicial processes.
The committee said it would conclude outstanding aspects of the investigation before submitting its final report to the House of Representatives.
The final report is expected to identify individual and institutional responsibilities and recommend possible legislative, administrative, disciplinary, civil, financial and criminal actions.
On the allegation linking Gbajabiamila to the purported PFIPC, however, the committee maintained in its preliminary findings that it found no evidence establishing his involvement and instead documented actions allegedly taken by the Chief of Staff to trigger investigations into the organisation.