ICPC conferma l'interrogatorio di Gbajabiamila

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has confirmed that Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, was not arrested in connection with the ongoing investigation into the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) scandal. Instead, Gbajabiamila voluntarily attended an interview with investigators and left after answering their questions, according to a statement released by the commission on Tuesday. Gbajabiamila arrived at the ICPC headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday afternoon, met with investigators, and departed shortly thereafter. The commission emphasized that his presence was based on an invitation from its investigators and aligned with its broader effort to collect information related to the PFIPC controversy. There was no mention of any formal detention or legal action against Gbajabiamila during the encounter. This clarification comes after reports circulated suggesting that Gbajabiamila had been arrested. His lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, had previously informed the media that Gbajabiamila appeared before the ICPC on Monday to respond to questions about the alleged scandal. According to Ogunye, Gbajabiamila cooperated fully with the commission's inquiries and returned to his duties afterward. The investigation into the PFIPC follows a directive from President Tinubu, who ordered the ICPC to conduct a thorough examination of the matter in early July. The president mandated that the commission complete its inquiry and present a detailed report within 30 days. The PFIPC, which is not recognized by any law or presidential decree, has been the subject of intense scrutiny due to claims that it operated within the federal bureaucracy despite lacking legal legitimacy. The controversy surrounding the PFIPC intensified after Adeniyi Adeyemi, an individual who allegedly posed as the organization's director-general, claimed to have paid N400 million in bribes to secure its operations. Among these payments, Adeyemi reportedly included funds he believed were given to Gbajabiamila. However, Gbajabiamila has denied receiving any such bribe and has stated that he was the one who reported Adeyemi to the police. Adeyemi faces multiple charges, including conspiracy and forgery, in relation to the PFIPC. A warrant for his arrest has been issued following repeated absences from court proceedings. He is currently in police custody. Meanwhile, Gbajabiamila has initiated legal action against Adeyemi, filing a N15 billion defamation lawsuit after demanding that the latter retract the bribery allegations and issue an apology. The PFIPC scandal has raised concerns about the functioning of the federal bureaucracy, particularly how the organization managed to secure office space, obtain budget allocations, open bank accounts, and employ public officials without a legal foundation. These issues are central to the ICPC's current investigation. Separately, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on President Tinubu to apologize to Nigerians and resign over what he describes as a cover-up related to the PFIPC accounts scandal. This call follows conflicting statements from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF). Atiku argues that the discrepancies between these two institutions' accounts have placed the Tinubu administration in a severe credibility crisis. In a statement released by his senior special assistant on public communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku asserted that the president must take immediate responsibility for the situation. He urged Tinubu to initiate an independent investigation and hold all parties accountable to restore public trust. If the president fails to act decisively, Atiku suggested that Tinubu has forfeited the moral authority to remain in office. Atiku criticized the administration for its lack of transparency and warned that the continued silence of key officials, including the attorney-general, exacerbates the crisis. He called on the National Assembly to compel both the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Governor of the Central Bank to testify before an investigative committee under oath, ensuring that the public receives a clear and unified explanation of the events. The PFIPC scandal has evolved beyond mere financial disputes, according to Atiku, becoming a test of President Tinubu's integrity and leadership capabilities. He argued that if a single individual could manipulate the system to create contradictions between two crucial financial institutions, it raises serious questions about the extent of potential mismanagement and oversight failures within the administration.