THE House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) has cleared Femi Gbajabiamila of involvement.

The committee’s Chairman, Yusuf Gagdi (APC-Plateau), made this known in the panel’s preliminary report released in Abuja on Wednesday.

Gagdi said the committee found no evidence linking the Chief of Staff to the President with the organisation’s establishment or operations.

He said findings showed that Gbajabiamila neither authorised nor approved the establishment or operation of the purported organisation.

He said this was contrary to allegations by the organisation’s purported Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi, against the Chief of Staff.

Gagdi said evidence presented before the committee showed that a letter purportedly appointing Adeyemi as Director-General was fabricated.

He said the letter was falsely attributed to Gbajabiamila, who neither issued nor signed it.

The chairman said the letterhead and reference number used were also inconsistent with official State House correspondence.

Gagdi said documentary evidence showed that Gbajabiamila took steps to expose and investigate the purported organisation after receiving a formal alert.

“The Chief of Staff acted within one day of receiving an alert from the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission over suspected fraudulent activities,” he said.

He explained Gbajabiamila subsequently communicated with relevant security and investigative agencies over the matter.

These agencies included the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Office of the National Security Adviser.

Gagdi said the committee preliminarily commended Gbajabiamila for what it described as timely security and administrative interventions.

He stressed that the committee’s findings remained preliminary and did not constitute the final report or decision of the House.

Gagdi said the committee also found that PFIPC was not established by any valid Act of the National Assembly, executive order or other lawful instrument.

He said the panel uncovered alleged fabrication of presidential correspondence, a purported executive order and an altered document presented as an Act of Parliament.

The chairman identified Adeyemi as the principal person associated with the purported organisation.

He said the committee recommended further investigation into alleged financial transactions involving the organisation.

Adeyemi had alleged that Gbajabiamila was behind the organisation’s establishment and collected N400 million as bribe.

He also alleged that the Chief of Staff demanded an additional N200 million bribe.

Gagdi said the purported agency was captured in the 2026 budget and allocated office space at the Federal Secretariat Complex.

He said it also had accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria and obtained an official vehicle bearing a government number plate.

The chairman, however, said the purported organisation secured the government facilities and other privileges through allegedly forged documents and fraudulent means. (NAN)