The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has concluded its investigation into the controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
This brings to a close the 30-day probe ordered by President Bola Tinubu into the existence and operations of the controversial agency.
The investigation was launched after questions emerged over the status of the council and the N1.302 billion allocated to it in the 2026 Appropriation Act. President Tinubu had directed the anti-graft agency on July 7 to investigate the matter and submit its findings within 30 days.
Sources within the ICPC confirmed that the commission had completed its assignment and was finalising its report ahead of submission within the presidential deadline.
According to a senior source, the commission recently interrogated the council’s detained Director-General, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, who has remained in police custody since his arrest.
The source disclosed that Adeyemi was initially scheduled to be questioned on Wednesday, but the session was postponed because his lawyer could not arrive on time.
“The prime suspect (Adeyemi) was supposed to be interviewed last Wednesday, but his lawyer couldn’t arrive on time. Because the police had other people to attend to, ICPC officials were asked to return the following day.
“The operatives went back on Thursday and interviewed him. Several other people had been interviewed before then. I think the report is being finalised now and will be submitted before the deadline,” the source said.
While the ICPC wraps up its investigation, the House of Representatives ad hoc committee probing the same matter is also nearing the end of its assignment. The committee has indicated that it will brief Nigerians on its findings this week before submitting a final report to the House for legislative action.
Committee Chairman Yusuf Gagdi had earlier revealed that the lawmakers uncovered what he described as widespread document fraud during the investigation. He said preliminary findings pointed to the creation and use of a purported Directorate of Administration and Support Services under the State House, which investigators found did not exist.
Gagdi explained that the committee could not question Adeyemi because he remains in police custody under a valid court order, stressing that lawmakers chose to respect the judicial process while continuing their investigation.
He added that the committee was carrying out final verification with relevant government institutions to ensure every party received a fair hearing before its report was concluded.
Despite the investigations, Adeyemi has continued to deny allegations that he single-handedly created the PFIPC. Through his legal team led by Festus Akhigbe, he argued that he was being unfairly portrayed as the sole architect of the controversial council.
“In light of the ongoing proceedings by the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee, chaired by Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, we formally request that the panel issue the necessary administrative clearance to allow our client, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, to appear in person and testify,” the lawyers said.
“Any investigative outcome or final legislative report produced without affording our client a direct hearing would be fundamentally flawed, incomplete and a breach of the constitutional right to a fair hearing.”
The legal team insisted that several federal institutions officially dealt with the PFIPC, including the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Budget Office and the National Assembly.
According to the lawyers, security agencies also participated in programmes organised by the council, while the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission provided office space and recognised its leadership.
“It is administratively impossible for an unassisted individual to mislead multiple federal institutions into approving structures, assigning personnel, opening government accounts and securing budgetary allocations,” the statement added.
Adeyemi, through his legal team also insisted that any report by the lawmakers without hearing directly from him would be “fundamentally flawed” and would violate his constitutional right to a fair hearing.
As such, he asked the House to grant the necessary administrative clearance to enable him appear before its ad hoc committee investigating the council and the controversial N1.302 billion allocation it received in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
