“Gov’t Can’t Probe Gov’t” – Acclaimed PFIPC Boss Adeniyi Demands Independent Probe of Gbajabiamila
The acclaimed Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Prince Ademola Adeniyi, has rejected the ongoing investigation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), insisting that only an independent panel can uncover the truth behind the controversy involving Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Adeniyi argued that the government could not credibly investigate itself.
“Government can’t probe Government. Are you telling me that the ICPC would indict Chief Femi Gbajabiamila? It’s not possible,” he said.
While thanking President Bola Tinubu for directing the ICPC to investigate the matter, Adeniyi maintained that the probe should be handled by an independent body.
“I thank our father, Mr President, for listening by setting up a panel, but what we need is an independent panel. The Presidency already exonerated Gbajabiamila,” he said.
Adeniyi also claimed he borrowed ₦400 million in pursuit of the appointment he believed he had secured.
“I borrowed the money for this appointment. In fact, those that I borrowed from have reported to the EFCC,” he said.
Meanwhile, Adeyemi, in an open letter dated July 13, 2026, has appealed to President Tinubu to establish an independent, multi-stakeholder panel to investigate both the alleged PFIPC scandal and the controversial ₦1.3 billion allocation inserted into the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
He commended the President for ordering the ICPC to investigate the matter but argued that the probe should be broadened to ensure transparency and public confidence.
“I write to you not as a fugitive evading accountability, but as a Nigerian citizen who maintains an unwavering belief in equity, justice, and the rule of law,” he wrote.
Adeyemi added that the presidential directive was “a vital first step” but insisted that “the structural realities of this investigation compel me to speak out of a profound desire for absolute transparency.”
He further claimed that surrendering himself to authorities under the current arrangement would put his life at risk.
“I have received verified, highly reliable intelligence indicating that I am targeted for elimination the moment I surface in an unmonitored environment,” he alleged.
According to Adeyemi, he is prepared to present documents and evidence once an independent panel comprising civil society groups, international organisations, legal bodies and anti-corruption agencies is constituted.
“The moment this independent, multi-stakeholder panel is constituted, I will immediately step forward to present comprehensive documentation and verifiable evidences,” he stated.
He argued that “a system cannot credibly investigate itself when its own key actors are central to the discourse.”
Adeyemi is expected to appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday over allegations of forgery, impersonation and related offences. He and two others are facing an eight-count charge filed by the police.
