Reps Probe ₦1.32 Billion ‘Fake Agency’ Scandal as Critics Slam Gbajabiamila’s Exclusion from Inquiry

The House of Representatives has launched a formal investigation into how an unestablished agency, the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), secured a ₦1.32 billion allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Act, even as some lawmakers and public affairs analysts question the credibility of the probe over the decision not to invite President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.

Speaker Tajudeen Abbas inaugurated the ad hoc committee today at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, with the panel scheduled to hold its first public hearing in line with Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution, which empower the National Assembly to investigate matters relating to public institutions and the management of public funds . The investigation follows the arrest of self-proclaimed PFIPC Director-General, Adeyemi Adeniyi, who is accused of orchestrating the inclusion of the agency in the 2026 budget despite its non-existence .

The controversy has drawn significant public attention after it emerged that the PFIPC was never legally established by the Nigerian government and had no basis under any law, presidential instrument, executive approval, or other lawful government authorization . President Bola Tinubu had earlier directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to conduct a thorough investigation into the activities of the PFIPC, ordering the anti-corruption agency to submit a comprehensive report within 30 days . The ICPC has been directed to investigate allegedly forged appointment letters, the use of false claims of presidential appointment to obtain official recognition, and the opening of multiple bank accounts in the names of purported government agencies using allegedly forged documents .

The ad hoc committee, chaired by Yusuf Gagdi, has been tasked with investigating how the PFIPC found its way into the national budget with a whopping N1,302,978,784 allocation, comprising N802,978,783 for personnel costs, N200,000,001 for overheads, and N300,000,000 for capital expenditure . According to the presidency, the PFIPC was never established by the federal government, yet it reportedly secured office space within the Federal Secretariat in Abuja and operated bank accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria . The panel will trace the budgetary provision from the executive’s proposal through the legislative process to identify the exact stage at which the allocation was introduced and determine whether any government processes were compromised .

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A notice signed by Gagdi has invited several top government officials to appear before the committee, including the Ministers of Budget and Economic Planning, Finance, Industry, Trade and Investment, Justice, and Foreign Affairs . Others summoned include the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Chairmen of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the ICPC, the Auditor-General for the Federation, the Fiscal Responsibility Commission, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, and the Inspector-General of Police . Civil society organisations, professional bodies, development partners, and members of the public have also been invited to submit memoranda relating to the committee’s terms of reference .

However, the committee’s decision not to invite either Gbajabiamila or Adeniyi has drawn sharp criticism, with some lawmakers questioning the transparency of the investigation. A member of the committee, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed disappointment over the omission, arguing that the two central figures in the controversy should have been among the first witnesses called. “From the notice, you will see that the two central figures are not invited. I mean Gbajabiamila and Adeyemi. There is an obvious attempt to exempt Gbajabiamila, and that is an attempt by the committee to clear him. From the notice of invitation, there is already a bias,” the lawmaker said .

Public affairs analyst Jackson Ojo also faulted the decision, arguing that inviting the Chief of Staff was necessary to ensure a transparent investigation. “The committee is starting on the wrong footing. They should have invited the Chief of Staff to clear his name. As important as the invited government officials are to the investigation, they are not as important as Gbajabiamila. The man taken into custody mentioned the Chief of Staff. So, why is he not part of those to field questions from the lawmakers?” he asked .

The controversy erupted after Adeniyi Adeyemi, who presented himself as the PFIPC Director-General, was arrested by police operatives in Osun State following a bench warrant issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja . Adeniyi had failed to appear for his arraignment on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery, and impersonation . Police forensic analysis confirmed that the signature of the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, on the disputed appointment letter had been forged . Adeniyi is accused of forging presidential letterheads and fabricating requests for office accommodation purportedly originating from the State House .

The scandal deepened after Adeniyi allegedly claimed he paid ₦100 million through proxies to Gbajabiamila to facilitate the establishment of the agency . Gbajabiamila has denied the allegations and filed a N15 billion defamation suit against Adeniyi, seeking N10 billion in general damages, N5 billion in aggravated damages, and an order compelling him to publish a retraction and apology in five national newspapers . Both the Presidency and the Office of the Chief of Staff have denied the allegation, with Gbajabiamila stating he had never met Adeniyi .

The Nigerian Guild of Investigative Journalists (NGIJ) has called for an independent panel of inquiry, arguing that the scale of the allegations suggests official backing beyond the actions of a few individuals. The Guild noted that an account was reportedly opened for the council at the Central Bank of Nigeria, the agency was captured in the 2026 Appropriation Bill, office accommodation was allocated within the Federal Secretariat Complex, and more than 300 personnel, including eight directors, were reportedly recruited to work for the council . These developments, if established through investigation, suggest that the activities attributed to the council went far beyond the actions of a few individuals and may have involved approvals or support from influential actors within government . The Guild maintained that no public official, irrespective of rank or political influence, should be insulated from investigation where credible allegations exist .

Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu revealed during plenary that he had personally met representatives of the disputed organisation after his office received what appeared to be an official government letter. According to Kalu, the correspondence identified the organisation as both the Presidential Economic Advisory Council and the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PEAC/PFIPC) and carried the Presidency’s insignia, a Federal Secretariat address, and a “.gov.ng“ website . He said the delegation appeared more interested in taking photographs than discussing policy matters during the meeting . Meanwhile, the Senate has resolved to await the outcome of the ICPC investigation before proceeding with its own legislative probe .

Reps Probe ₦1.32 Billion ‘Fake Agency’ Scandal as Critics Slam Gbajabiamila’s Exclusion from Inquiry

Foreign Interests, Sahel Terrorists Fueling Nigeria’s Insecurity Crisis – Presidency

The Nigerian government has confirmed that foreign nationals have been arrested in connection with the country’s escalating security crisis, as cross-border terrorism from the Sahel region intensifies.

Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communications, disclosed this during a podcast interview, revealing that the military deliberately withheld the identities of the arrested foreigners to protect diplomatic engagements and enable possible prisoner exchanges. Bwala identified terrorism in the Sahel states as a primary driver of Nigeria’s security challenges, noting that militants routinely cross into Nigerian territory to attack communities before retreating across poorly secured borders. He also alleged that a reported rivalry between the Nigerian Army and Air Force under the previous administration had weakened counterterrorism operations, a coordination issue he claims has been resolved under President Tinubu.

The presidential spokesperson pointed to multiple indicators suggesting external involvement in Nigeria’s security crisis, beginning with the confirmed arrest of foreign nationals linked to insecurity. Bwala stated that Nigerian troops have made such arrests, though the military has withheld their nationalities for security reasons, noting that such individuals could be used for prisoner exchanges with their home countries. In a separate operation, troops arrested 24 foreign nationals from various West and Central African countries, including Cameroon, Togo, and Ivory Coast, during a raid in Lagos State. Beyond these arrests, Bwala cited demonstrations in northern Nigeria where protesters displayed Russian flags as evidence that the security challenge has international dimensions. He also referenced a US congressional hearing where Rep. Scott Perry alleged that the CIA had funded groups like Boko Haram and ISIS; while Bwala stressed he was neither confirming nor denying the claim, he argued that Nigeria must take such international allegations seriously. Additionally, the presidential aide raised questions about humanitarian organisations that rented houses for 10 to 15 years in Borno State when the Boko Haram insurgency began, suggesting foreknowledge of a prolonged crisis.

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The expansion of militant groups from the Sahel into Nigeria represents a significant and growing threat, with data confirming a dramatic escalation. A report by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) shows that attacks by al-Qaeda and ISIS-affiliated groups in the Nigeria-Benin-Niger border zone surged by 262% between 2024 and 2025. The al-Qaeda-affiliated Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and the Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP) have begun openly claiming operations inside Nigeria, marking a public declaration of presence in areas where activity had previously been suspected but less overt. Bwala confirmed that Islamic State fighters have been transiting through the Sahel to support the Lakurawa militant group in Sokoto State, providing equipment and training, and researchers have recently established links between some members of Lakurawa and the Sahelian branch of the Islamic State. The ACLED report attributed the escalating violence to “limited state presence and weak border control” after several Sahelian states withdrew from ECOWAS, leading to weakened regional cooperation and limited cross-border coordination.

Bwala also addressed internal weaknesses that have hampered the security response, particularly the alleged rivalry between the Nigerian Army and Air Force. He claimed that during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, disagreements between the Chief of Air Staff and the Army leadership sometimes resulted in troops being denied critical air support during operations, though he noted this coordination issue has been resolved under the current administration. While dismissing claims that military personnel deliberately shield terrorists, Bwala acknowledged that security agencies are not immune to infiltration, citing isolated cases of security personnel collaborating with criminals. The presidential aide further warned that Boko Haram and ISWAP have spread from the North-East to the North-West and are pushing toward the North-Central, with the government working to contain the situation before it reaches southern Nigeria.

In December 2025, the United States conducted precision strikes against Islamic State targets in Sokoto State with Nigerian government approval, targeting ISIS enclaves in an effort to halt the group’s movement toward coastal West Africa while preserving US strategic presence in the region. Bwala confirmed that the strike targeted areas historically known to host both armed bandits and the Lakurawa group, adding that US intelligence indicated a massive movement of ISIS members from the Sahel into the region.

Foreign Interests, Sahel Terrorists Fueling Nigeria’s Insecurity Crisis – Presidency

Troops Foil ISWAP Mass Abduction at Borno School, Rescue 46 Students

• Operation HADIN KAI and police repulse pre-dawn terrorist assault on FGGC Monguno, confirm student fatalities in crossfire

Troops of Operation HADIN KAI, working alongside personnel of the Nigeria Police Mobile Force (MOPOL) , successfully foiled a mass abduction attempt by suspected ISWAP terrorists at the Federal Government Girls College (FGGC), Monguno, Borno State, in the early hours of Sunday. The attack occurred at approximately 1:30 a.m. on July 19 at the school facility, which is currently being used by the Borno State Government as a temporary hostel for students of the Federal Polytechnic, Monguno. According to the Acting Military Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, the terrorists gained access to the premises with the assistance of suspected collaborators, intending to abduct students.

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Security personnel on guard immediately engaged the attackers with coordinated and overwhelming firepower, while the Sector 3 Quick Reaction Force (QRF) was rapidly deployed to reinforce the school. Confronted with superior combat capability and determined resistance, the terrorists were forced to abandon their mission and flee in confusion without achieving their objective. During the exchange of gunfire, parts of the school infrastructure sustained damage, but the military confirmed that the attempt was well contained by troops in conjunction with police personnel.

Following the operation, troops successfully rescued and evacuated all 46 students to Kinnasara Barracks, Monguno, where they received immediate medical assessment and appropriate care. All rescued students have been confirmed medically stable, and no student was abducted. However, the military regrettably confirmed that some students were fatally struck by sporadic gunfire from the terrorists during the firefight. Operation HADIN KAI extended its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased.

Military authorities said exploitation of the incident is ongoing to identify and apprehend suspected collaborators, while troops and other security agencies are actively tracking the fleeing terrorists. Operation HADIN KAI reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining relentless pressure on terrorist elements, denying them freedom of action, and ensuring that educational institutions across the North-East remain safe and secure.

Troops Foil ISWAP Mass Abduction at Borno School, Rescue 46 Students