“We’re Not Stupid!” Netizen Challenges Clearance of Gbajabiamila in Fake Agency Scandal
Abuja, Nigeria – August 8, 2026—A Nigerian social media user has publicly challenged the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) after the agency cleared Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, of wrongdoing in the ongoing Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) scandal.
The netizen, posting as BLESSED (@Dee_9889), reacted sharply to the ICPC’s interim report, arguing that it is impossible for a single individual to establish a fake government agency, open accounts at the Central Bank of Nigeria, secure office space in a federal facility, and interact with senior officials without broader institutional failures or collusion.
“So who was the 400 million sent to? Who opened a CBN account for him? How did he get an office space in Govt? How come he took a picture with EFCC chairman and also the VP? UNA JUST THINK SAY WE FOOLISH LIKE UNA PARTY MEMBERS,” the user wrote.
ICPC Findings Clear Gbajabiamila
On Thursday, ICPC Chairman Dr. Musa Aliyu presented an interim investigation report to President Tinubu. The commission stated that the PFIPC was never created by any law, executive order, or valid government instrument and described it as a fictitious organization.
Investigators found that the appointment letter presented by Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who claimed to be the agency’s Director-General, was forged. The ICPC said there was no evidence linking Gbajabiamila to the alleged ₦400 million bribe claimed by Adeyemi.
The commission recommended the prosecution of Adeyemi and administrative sanctions against public officials whose negligence or omissions allegedly enabled the fake agency to operate.
Several institutions, including the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service, the Office of the Accountant-General, the Budget Office and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), were identified for failing to conduct adequate due diligence.
How the Scandal Unfolded
The controversy erupted after Adeyemi alleged that he paid ₦400 million through a proxy and was later asked for an additional ₦200 million, plus a share of the agency’s purported take-off grant, to secure his appointment.
He claimed the PFIPC had operated for over a year with office space in the Federal Secretariat, CBN accounts, and a ₦1.3 billion allocation in the 2026 budget.
The Presidency and Gbajabiamila strongly denied the claims. Gbajabiamila maintained that he had reported suspicious activities around the purported agency to security authorities as far back as October 2025.
President Tinubu subsequently directed the ICPC to investigate the matter within 30 days.
While the ICPC said its probe found no evidence that public funds were disbursed to the phantom agency and that internal processes at the State House and CBN remained intact, the case has continued to raise questions about how such a scheme gained access to government facilities and institutions.
Public Scepticism Persists
The netizen’s reaction reflects lingering public skepticism. Many Nigerians continue to question how a non-existent agency could secure official recognition, budget inclusion, and interactions with high-level officials if it was purely the work of one individual.
The ICPC has indicated that further investigations into other aspects of the case are ongoing. Adeyemi faces prosecution for forgery, impersonation, and operating a non-existent government agency.
The commission also revealed he allegedly created two additional fictitious agencies — the FCT Investment Promotion Agency and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency/Public-Private Partnership — using fake legislative instruments.
As the matter progresses, the episode has once again put a spotlight on institutional oversight, due diligence within government MDAs, and the ease with which forged documents can apparently penetrate official systems.
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