Mirian Gom 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee investigating the alleged inclusion of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) in the Federal Government’s budget framework has ruled out any involvement of the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Presenting the committee’s preliminary findings on Wednesday, Chairman of the panel, Yusuf Gagdi, said available evidence showed that Gbajabiamila neither authorised nor established the organisation, contrary to claims surrounding the controversy.
Instead, the committee disclosed that the Chief of Staff acted promptly after concerns about the purported council were brought to his attention, initiating security and administrative investigations into the matter.
According to the panel, the issue first reached Gbajabiamila following an alert from the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), which raised concerns over suspected fraudulent activities and the alleged misuse of official government documents and institutional identity.
The committee said documentary evidence indicated that within 24 hours of receiving the complaint, Gbajabiamila contacted relevant security and anti-graft agencies, 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), requesting immediate investigation.
It added that he also directed administrative verification through the appropriate government institutions to establish the authenticity of the organisation.
According to the lawmakers, when fresh concerns later surfaced over a proposed international investment summit allegedly linked to the PFIPC, the Chief of Staff again instructed relevant authorities to investigate and take appropriate action.
“The documentary evidence presently before the Committee does not establish that the Chief of Staff authorised, approved, established or participated in the activities of the purported organisation,” Gagdi stated.
“Rather, the evidence demonstrates repeated efforts to trigger investigation, institutional verification and appropriate administrative action whenever the matter was brought before him.”
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