The House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee investigating the alleged activities of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council has cleared the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, of any involvement in the organisation.
The committee said its preliminary investigation found no evidence that Gbajabiamila authorised, established, approved or participated in the activities of the controversial council.
Chairman of the committee, Yusuf Gagdi, disclosed the findings while presenting the panel’s preliminary report during a press briefing on Wednesday.
According to the lawmakers, available documentary evidence showed that Gbajabiamila took steps to alert relevant security and investigative agencies after concerns were raised about the activities of the purported organisation.
The concerns were reportedly first brought to the attention of the Chief of Staff following allegations by the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission of suspected fraudulent activities and the misuse of institutional documents.
The committee said Gbajabiamila responded within 24 hours by reaching out to relevant agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
He was also said to have directed relevant government institutions to carry out administrative verification of the organisation and its claims.
The panel added that the Chief of Staff subsequently sent further communications requesting investigations and appropriate actions when fresh concerns emerged, including issues surrounding a proposed world investment summit.
“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.“
On the contrary, the evidence demonstrates repeated steps to secure investigation, institutional verification and appropriate administrative action,” the committee stated.
The lawmakers consequently commended Gbajabiamila for what they described as his prompt security and administrative response whenever the matter was brought to his attention.
Reps uncover alleged forged appointment letterThe House committee also said it discovered that a letter purportedly appointing Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi as the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council was forged.
According to the panel, the document falsely attributed the appointment to the Presidency and purportedly carried the authority and signature of Gbajabiamila.
However, State House records reportedly showed that the Chief of Staff neither issued nor signed the appointment letter.
The lawmakers further found that the letterhead used for the document was not an authentic State House letterhead, while the reference number did not conform to the official government referencing system.
Committee rejects purported executive order, National Assembly ActThe investigation also uncovered documents presented as a Presidential Executive Order and an Act of the National Assembly allegedly establishing the organisation.
The committee said the purported Executive Order No. 5, dated February 24, 2026, was neither issued nor approved through the lawful processes of the Presidency.
Similarly, the lawmakers said the document presented as an Act of the National Assembly was never passed by both chambers of the legislature, assented to by the President or gazetted as a law of the Federation.
According to the committee, part of an official instrument belonging to another institution appeared to have been electronically altered or substituted to create the impression that the National Assembly established the council.
The panel maintained that its investigation found no valid law, executive order, administrative instrument or other lawful authority establishing an organisation known as the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.58 bank accounts linked to alleged fake agency
The committee also disclosed that preliminary financial investigations linked about 58 bank accounts to identification details associated with Adeyemi.
The controversy surrounding the purported agency began after the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council allegedly appeared in the 2026 Federal Government budget despite concerns about its legal status and existence.Adeyemi, who allegedly presented himself as the Director-General of the council, was said to have claimed that he was appointed by Gbajabiamila.
The allegations prompted widespread concerns over how the purported organisation secured a budgetary allocation and allegedly operated within government structures without clear legal backing.
Gbajabiamila had denied any involvement with the organisation.The investigation comes amid growing concerns over the alleged emergence of fake government agencies operating without lawful authority.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission had also reportedly uncovered another alleged fake government body known as the National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office.
The House of Representatives committee is expected to continue its investigation into the circumstances surrounding the establishment, operations and alleged financial activities of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.
