The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) interrogated Adeniyi Adeyemi, alleged founder of the disputed Promotion Council (PFIPC), while in police custody.
This was as investigation into the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment gathered deepened on Wednesday.
Adeyemi, who is being held at the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre in Abuja, was questioned over allegations surrounding the creation and operations of the purported council, which the Presidency has described as a non-existent government agency.
The interrogation formed part of investigation into claims that Adeyemi falsely presented himself as the Director-General of a presidential body that several government institutions insist was never created or recognised by the Federal Government.
The probe also centres on allegations of forged appointment letters, the opening of bank accounts in the names of purported government agencies, attempts to obtain official recognition and diplomatic support, and the controversial inclusion of the council in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
The ICPC’s initial plan to question Adeyemi at about 10 a.m. on Wednesday was postponed after his legal representative failed to appear at the police facility.
Sources familiar with the investigation disclosed that anti-graft investigators had already prepared for the interview but suspended the exercise to ensure compliance with the suspect’s constitutional right to legal representation.
The session eventually commenced around 3 p.m. after Adeyemi’s new lawyer arrived.
A top ICPC source, who requested anonymity, said the anti-graft agency deliberately rescheduled the interview to safeguard the integrity of the investigation.
“The ICPC earlier today (Wednesday) was at the Cybercrime Centre in an attempt to interview Adeyemi around 10 a.m., but the interview could not hold after the set-up had been done because his lawyer was absent. That was why the interview was later fixed for 3 p.m.,” the source said.
Another source confirmed that the interrogation proceeded in the presence of Adeyemi’s counsel but could not be concluded.
“His lawyer eventually came and he was later interrogated in the presence of his lawyer.
“They couldn’t conclude the questioning today and there’s the possibility of them continuing some other day, probably tomorrow,” the source added.
Under Nigeria’s criminal justice system, suspects undergoing formal interrogation are entitled to legal representation, and investigators generally defer questioning until counsel is present to ensure due process.
The latest development comes as the House of Representatives intensifies its own investigation into the controversial council.
The House Ad-hoc Committee investigating the establishment and operations of the PFIPC is expected to question several senior government officials over the council’s appearance in the 2026 budget and its alleged access to government facilities.
Read also: Trump commends Tinubu’s counter-terrorism leadership in official letter
Among those invited are George Akume,
Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser, Lateef Fagbemi, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Olatunji Disu, Inspector-General of Police, Taiwo Oyedele, Minister of Finance and Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, Accountant-General of the Federation.
Others expected before the Yusuf Gagdi-led committee include Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tanimu Yakubu, Director-General of the Budget Office, Aisha Rimi, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, officials of the National Economic Council Secretariat, the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, and the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.
Lawmakers are seeking explanations on how the PFIPC found its way into the 2026 Appropriation Act despite repeated claims by government agencies that the council had no legal basis.
The committee is also investigating allegations that office accommodation was allocated to the council within the Federal Secretariat complex.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier directed the ICPC to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the activities of the purported agency.
In a statement issued on July 7 by Bayo Onanuga, President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, the Presidency described the PFIPC as a fictitious organisation that was never established by the Federal Government.
The President instructed the anti-corruption agency to investigate allegations that Adeyemi used forged appointment letters and official government documents while presenting himself as the Director-General of the council.
The investigation also covers allegations that he sought diplomatic recognition, requested visa facilitation from government institutions and opened multiple bank accounts in the names of purported government agencies using forged documents.
Adeyemi had claimed that Femi
Gbajabiamila, President’s Chief of Staff,
appointed him as Director-General of the council and alleged that he paid money to secure the appointment.
Gbajabiamila has denied the allegations and has filed a lawsuit against Adeyemi.
His lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, confirmed that the Chief of Staff honoured the ICPC’s invitation on Monday and provided investigators with his account of events.
According to Ogunye, Gbajabiamila appeared before the anti-graft agency in compliance with the President’s directive, answered investigators’ questions and subsequently returned to his official duties.
The House investigation has already heard testimony from Dunoma Ahmed, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who distanced the ministry from the activities of the PFIPC.
Ahmed told lawmakers that Adeyemi approached the ministry on three separate occasions, in June and August 2025 and again in June 2026, introducing himself as Director-General of both the Presidential Economic Advisory Council and the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council.
According to him, Adeyemi sought government support to organise a World Investment Summit in Nigeria.
However, after conducting due diligence, the ministry rejected the requests because of inconsistencies in the documents presented and concerns over the authenticity of the council.
Ahmed disclosed that the ministry subsequently wrote to the Office of the National Security Adviser seeking clarification.
He said the NSA’s office later informed the ministry that enquiries made with both the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President showed that Adeyemi was unknown to the Federal Government.
The Permanent Secretary further informed lawmakers that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs never facilitated diplomatic engagements for the PFIPC, nor did it negotiate any investment agreements, memoranda of understanding or treaties on its behalf.
He also stated that no Nigerian diplomatic mission abroad was instructed to recognise or engage with the purported council.
The House committee has also directed the Inspector-General of Police to produce two suspects allegedly linked to documents purportedly obtained from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, which reportedly approved the council’s participation in the federal budget process and granted a waiver for the deployment of about 300 personnel.
Lawmakers are equally seeking clarification from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation over the alleged transfer of office space originally allocated to the SGF’s office within the Federal Secretariat to the PFIPC.
Yusuf Gagdi, Committee Chairman, has warned that any government official who fails to honour the committee’s invitation risks being compelled to appear under the constitutional powers of the House of Representatives.
The legislative probe is seeking to determine how the disputed council allegedly secured office accommodation, sought official recognition from public institutions and appeared in the 2026 federal budget despite widespread questions over its legal status.
The controversy has also been fuelled by conflicting explanations from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Central Bank of Nigeria regarding the opening of bank accounts linked to the purported council.
