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Fake agency probe: ICPC team grills embattled PFIPC DG inside police detention

Published

3 months ago

July 23, 2026

The investigation into the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) intensified on Wednesday as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission commenced interrogation of the alleged founder of the disputed agency, Adeniyi Adeyemi, inside police detention.

The PFIPC controversy erupted after allegations that Adeyemi presented himself as the Director-General of a presidential body that several government institutions said they neither created nor recognised, while questions were raised over alleged forged documents, bank accounts and the council’s inclusion in budget proposals.

Adeyemi’s questioning, however, came after an earlier attempt by the anti-graft agency to interview him was stalled when his new lawyer failed to appear at the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, where the suspect was being held.

ICPC operatives, who arrived at the facility around 10am, had prepared for the session but suspended the exercise to allow Adeyemi secure legal representation in line with his rights under criminal procedure.

The interrogation later commenced after his new lawyer arrived, but the session was not concluded as investigators continued probing allegations surrounding the creation, operations and claims of official recognition by the purported PFIPC.

The development came as the controversy widened, with the House of Representatives set to question top government officials, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu; and Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, over the council’s appearance in the 2026 budget and its alleged access to government facilities on Thursday (today).

Adeyemi grilled

A senior police source familiar with the investigation, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment on the matter, said the anti-graft agency rescheduled Adeyemi’s grilling session from 10am to 3pm on Wednesday to ensure compliance with the suspect’s right to legal representation.

“The ICPC earlier today (Wednesday) was at the Cybercrime Centre in an attempt to interview Adeyemi around 10am, 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 3pm,” the source said.

Another police source confirmed that the interrogation eventually commenced after Adeyemi’s lawyer arrived but noted that the session 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 (today),” the source said.

Under Nigeria’s criminal justice procedure, suspects undergoing formal interrogation by law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies are entitled to legal representation, and investigators typically defer questioning until counsels are present to safeguard the integrity of the process.

On Monday, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, was at the headquarters of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission in Abuja.

Adeyemi, who was arrested last week, claimed that Gbajabiamila gave him an appointment letter for the role, adding that he gave money to the Chief of Staff to secure the job.

But the former House of Representatives Speaker has denied the allegations, filing a suit against Adeyemi. The Presidency has also said the council does not exist.

Gbajabiamila’s legal counsel, Jiti Ogunye of Jiti Ogunye Chambers, confirmed the Chief of Staff’s appearance in an official statement.

Ogunye said, “In full cooperation with the ICPC acting as directed by the President of Nigeria, I hereby confirm that my client, Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President of Nigeria, responded to the invitation of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission and appeared at about 15:00hrs on Monday, July 20, 2026, as part of the ongoing investigation into the activities of the ‘PFIPC’ fake agency, among others.

“My client gave his testimony, responded to questions accordingly, and has returned to his duty post.”

Gbajabiamila’s appearance at the anti-graft agency comes weeks after President Bola Tinubu directed the ICPC to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the activities of the fictitious Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, which the Presidency said was never established by the Federal Government.

In a statement issued on July 7 by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu ordered the anti-corruption agency to investigate the activities of the fake council and submit a report within 30 days.

The Presidency said the investigation should cover the alleged use of forged appointment letters and official government documents by one Adeniyi Adeyemi, who allegedly presented himself as the Director-General of the non-existent council while falsely claiming to be a presidential appointee.

The probe also includes allegations that Adeyemi used the false claim to seek official recognition and diplomatic support, including visa facilitation, and allegedly opened multiple bank accounts in the names of purported government agencies using forged documents.

Reps committee

The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating the controversial establishment and operations of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council is set to question several top government officials today over their alleged roles in the activities of the council and its inclusion in the 2026 Appropriation Act.

Among those expected to appear before the panel are the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu; the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); the Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele; and the Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi.

Others expected before the committee, chaired by Plateau lawmaker Yusuf Gagdi, include the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Tanimu Yakubu; Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, Aisha Rimi; officials of the National Economic Council Secretariat; as well as representatives of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission and the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.

The officials are expected to clarify their respective roles in the inclusion of the PFIPC in the 2026 budget estimates presented by President Bola Tinubu to the National Assembly, as well as issues surrounding the allocation of office accommodation to the council.

The latest hearing follows revelations by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dunoma Ahmed, who distanced the ministry from the activities of the council and questioned its legitimacy.

Ahmed told lawmakers that an individual identified as Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi approached the ministry on three occasions — June 26, 2025; August 5, 2025; and June 5, 2026 — introducing himself as the Director-General of both the Presidential Economic Advisory Council and the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council.

He said Adeyemi sought the ministry’s endorsement and collaboration to organise a World Investment Summit in Nigeria.

According to the Permanent Secretary, the ministry rejected the requests after conducting due diligence, citing inconsistencies in the correspondence and concerns over the authenticity of the council and its purported leadership.

Ahmed further disclosed that the ministry wrote to the Office of the National Security Adviser on October 16, 2025, seeking clarification on the status of the organisation and the identity of its alleged Director-General.

He said the NSA’s office replied on November 26, 2025, informing the ministry that inquiries 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 Prince Adeyemi was unknown to any Federal Government office.

The Permanent Secretary also told the committee that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had no involvement in any diplomatic engagement involving the PFIPC and did not facilitate meetings between the council and foreign governments, diplomatic missions, international organisations or prospective investors.

He added that no memorandum of understanding, treaty or investment agreement was negotiated or executed through the council, while no Nigerian diplomatic mission abroad was instructed to recognise or engage with it.

The committee also directed the Inspector-General of Police to produce two suspects reportedly arrested in connection with documents allegedly obtained from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, which purportedly approved the council’s participation in the federal budget process and granted a waiver for the deployment of about 300 personnel.

Akume is also expected to explain the circumstances surrounding the allocation of office space within Phase III of the Federal Secretariat complex, which was originally assigned to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation in 2023 but was allegedly transferred to the PFIPC.

At Tuesday’s proceedings, Gagdi expressed dissatisfaction with the failure of several invited officials to honour the committee’s invitation, warning that the panel would invoke its constitutional powers to compel their appearance if they failed to attend the next sitting.

The investigation follows concerns over the alleged operation of the PFIPC as a government agency despite claims by several federal institutions that they neither established nor recognised it.

Lawmakers are seeking to determine how the council allegedly secured office accommodation, sought official recognition from government agencies and appeared in the 2026 budget proposals despite questions surrounding its legal status.

The outcome of the probe is expected to guide further legislative action as the House seeks to establish whether there were breaches of due process or abuse of public institutions in the operations of the council.

Atiku tackles Tinubu

Meanwhile, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar intensified the political dimension of the controversy, accusing the Tinubu administration of failing to provide clarity over conflicting explanations surrounding the operations of the alleged agency and demanding accountability from the government.

Atiku said the differing positions of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Central Bank of Nigeria over the opening of bank accounts linked to the PFIPC had raised serious questions about the handling of the matter.

In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former vice-president said President Bola Tinubu should either order an independent investigation into the controversy or take responsibility for resolving the issues.

He said, “This is where the cover-up appears to begin. One institution denied authorising the opening of the PFIPC accounts and alleged forgery. Another, before the representatives of the Nigerian people, stated that the accounts were opened on the directive of the Accountant-General after due process was followed. Both accounts cannot be true.”

Atiku argued that the conflicting accounts from the two government institutions had created a credibility crisis for the administration.

“When two of your most sensitive financial and monetary authorities publicly contradict each other on the same transaction, no serious leader needs a clairvoyant to know that his administration is trapped in a web of deception and a profound crisis of credibility.

“The President cannot continue to watch from the sidelines while his government tears itself apart with conflicting narratives,” he said.

The former Vice President challenged Tinubu to clarify which of the two official positions his administration recognised.

“President Tinubu must answer a simple question: which version does he believe — the Accountant-General’s or the Central Bank’s? If he believes neither, why has he not acted?” he asked.

He also criticised what he described as the silence of the Attorney-General of the Federation, saying it had further heightened public concerns over the controversy.

Atiku urged the National Assembly to invite the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria to appear jointly before its investigative committee to explain the conflicting claims.

“The PFIPC scandal has ceased to be merely about disputed accounts. It has become a referendum on President Tinubu’s integrity and competence,” he said.

He maintained that the President could restore public confidence only by ensuring an independent investigation into the matter.

“President Tinubu owes Nigerians an unreserved apology for presiding over this unprecedented collapse of public accountability. If he cannot immediately restore public confidence through a genuinely independent investigation and ensure that everyone responsible is held to account, then he has forfeited the moral authority to continue in office. The honourable course is simple: apologise to Nigerians and resign,” he said.

The PFIPC controversy followed conflicting explanations by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Central Bank of Nigeria over the opening of accounts linked to the council.

punch.ng

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Lagos residents decry delayed road project, allege extortion

Published

4 hours ago

October 14, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

Residents and business owners along Ogunrombi Street in the Idimu area of Lagos State have lamented the slow pace of a road rehabilitation project, alleging that construction workers block the road and extort motorists seeking access to the community.

During a visit by PUNCH Metro to the project site on Tuesday following complaints, the residents said the project, which involves resurfacing the road from Ogunrombi Street to Orisunmbare, was awarded by the Lagos State Government with a 12-month completion timeline but remained largely unfinished despite the deadline.

They expressed concern that the delay had caused hardship for motorists and businesses, while also raising questions about the quality of work already executed.

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told PUNCH Metro during the visit to the community that work on the project began in July 2025, but the contractors had only scraped the road surface and constructed drainage channels.

“We are bothered by what is going on on our street, Ogunrombi Street, Idimu. The Lagos State Government awarded the contract for resurfacing the road from Ogunrombi to Orisunmbare for 12 months. They started in July 2025.

“As I speak, they have only scraped the surface and done the drainage. That is all they were able to achieve within the scheduled time for delivery of the job,” the resident said.

The resident accused the construction workers of deliberately obstructing traffic and demanding money from motorists before allowing them to pass.

“This week, they did literally nothing other than block the roads with their equipment to prevent vehicular movement, treating the people in the community with contempt. They converted the roadblock into a tollgate, extorting motorists to secure passage,” the resident alleged.

Another resident, Tunde Filani, said the workers had, at one point, used a caterpillar to block the entire road for a week before moving the equipment to one side and parking a truck on the other, leaving motorists with limited access.

He alleged that the workers subsequently demanded money from motorists before allowing them to pass.

Filani said the owner of an event centre along the road had to contact the contractor after the obstruction disrupted access to the facility, prompting the contractor to direct the workers to open the road.

“The suffering is too much for us, and there is no hope that the project will be completed in another year, given the speed of work,” he added.

A commercial motorcycle rider also decried the delay, alleging that the workers blocked the end of the road linking OPC Junction and demanded money from operators before allowing them to pass.

“They used their caterpillar to block the road last month and prevented us from using it. It was blocked at the other end of the road linking OPC Junction. So, we had to pay N10,000 weekly for us to pass,” the rider alleged.

The rider said the payments were made by officials of their unit on behalf of members to secure passage.

Similarly, Francis Udo, a manager of a company located along the road, said the slow pace of construction had adversely affected the business, forcing it to operate at a loss.

Udo explained that the removal of the company’s drive-in access at the commencement of the project had prevented its trucks from entering the premises, while vehicles parked outside had been vandalised twice.

“We have been subjected to hardship as a result of this project. Our business has been running at a loss. When they started, they removed the drive-ins, and since then, we have not been able to move our truck into the compound.

“While we park outside, our truck has been vandalised twice. We had hoped that the work would be completed by July, but they are still foot-dragging,” he lamented.

He also alleged that the workers resorted to blocking the road and demanding money from motorists instead of accelerating the project.

“Instead of them to hasten up, they resorted to block the road and extort motorists. Sometimes, we paid N3,000 before they would allow us passage. It was later that their leader ordered them to open the road,” he alleged.

Beyond the delay and alleged extortion, the residents raised concerns about the quality of the work, particularly the drive-ins constructed along the road.

A resident, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, alleged that some of the drive-ins had started collapsing barely a month after construction.

“The drive-ins they made have started collapsing under the weight of small cars, and this is just a period of one month,” the resident said.

Another resident alleged that some landlords around the Paiko end of the road had contributed money to purchase iron materials after raising concerns about the quality of materials being used by the contractors.

During the visit, PUNCH Metro observed that construction work was ongoing at the Foursquare Avenue end of the road.

A project signboard erected at both ends of the road identified the Lagos State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure as the agency handling the project and indicated a 12-month completion period.

The residents appealed to the state government and relevant authorities to investigate the allegations of extortion and substandard work, ensure the quality of the construction and expedite the project’s completion.

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Adeshina Odunuga, could not be reached for comment, as calls made to his telephone line on Tuesday were not answered.

A text message sent to him had yet to be replied to as of the time this report was filed.

Source: punchng.com

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Aiyedatiwa orders river fumigation, health kits for residents after Ondo plane crash

Published

5 hours ago

October 14, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has ordered the fumigation of the Igbokoda River and the distribution of nose masks and other health kits to residents following complaints about the offensive stench from the site of last week’s Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash.

The directive followed growing concerns over possible environmental pollution and health risks as recovery operations continue at the crash site in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of the state.

In a statement on Wednesday, signed by the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku, the governor directed the Ministries of Environment and Health to begin extensive fumigation of the river to prevent a possible outbreak of diseases.

The statement read, “Following complaints by residents of Igbokoda over the strong stench emanating from the river where the Nigerian Air Force aircraft crashed last week, Ondo State Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has directed the Ministries of Environment and Health to commence extensive fumigation of the river.”

It added that the intervention was necessary because the river served as a major source of livelihood for residents of Igbokoda and neighbouring communities.

Aiyedatiwa also directed the Ilaje Local Government Area to arrange water tankers to supply potable water to residents if the river was found to be severely polluted and unsuitable for use.

“The arrangement is to remain in place pending a lasting intervention to address the pollution,” the statement added.

The governor further directed the Ministries of Health and Environment to distribute nose masks and other essential health kits to residents to protect them from potential health hazards.

The statement said, “The governor reiterated the state government’s commitment to providing all necessary support to the Nigerian Air Force in its ongoing evacuation efforts, as well as ensuring the welfare and safety of residents of the affected community.”

PUNCH Online reports that the crash occurred on October 5, when a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft, registration number NAF 931, crashed into a swampy area of Igbokoda during a routine mission from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos. The incident claimed the lives of all 25 people on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers.

Nine days after the incident, the recovery of the victims’ remains and the aircraft wreckage remained a major concern, with residents reporting an increasingly offensive smell from the river.

The Igbokoda monarch, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, had called on the Federal and Ondo State governments to expedite recovery efforts and address suspected contamination from decomposing human remains and spilt aviation fuel.

The recovery operation has been complicated by the swampy terrain and the aircraft’s submersion in the water. Following the crash, the state government deployed amphibious swamp machines to support the Nigerian Navy, Air Force, emergency response agencies and local divers in accessing the site and retrieving the wreckage and victims’ remains.

The Nigerian Air Force has also intensified search and recovery efforts and constituted a 12-member board of inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash. The Federal Government had earlier ordered an investigation into the incident.

Source: punchng.com

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Nuhu Ribadu reveals terrorists deploy AI, crypto to evade security agencies

Published

5 hours ago

October 14, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the African Union Counter-Terrorism Centre have warned that terrorist groups are increasingly exploiting social media, cryptocurrencies and emerging technologies to recruit members, conceal funds and coordinate attacks across West Africa and the Sahel.

They raised the alarm in Abuja on Tuesday at a three-day regional training conference on detecting and disrupting terrorists’ exploitation of information and communication technologies and emerging technologies.

Ribadu, represented by the National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Maj Gen Adamu Laka, said terrorist groups were using digital platforms to spread propaganda, radicalise potential recruits, raise funds and coordinate operations across borders.

He warned that the growing use of artificial intelligence, drones and virtual assets had added new dimensions to the security challenges facing Nigeria and other countries in the region.

“Emerging technologies add further complexity: Artificial Intelligence can rapidly produce personalised content; drones and autonomous systems can expand operational capabilities; and virtual assets can create new financing channels. We must, therefore, strengthen our ability to anticipate, detect, analyse and disrupt threats before they materialise,” he said.

Ribadu said the response required more than acquiring sophisticated equipment, stressing the need to develop technical expertise, strengthen institutions and improve cooperation among security agencies.

The NSA also called for increased cross-border intelligence sharing and the timely exchange of actionable cyber threat information among West African and Sahelian countries.

“Nigeria recognises that no institution, country or sector can defeat terrorism alone,” he said.

The former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission chairman added that Nigeria was working with the African Union Counter-Terrorism Centre to secure accreditation for the National Counter Terrorism Centre as a regional centre of excellence for counterterrorism in West Africa and the Sahel.

He said the initiative followed President Bola Tinubu’s declaration at the High-Level Africa Counterterrorism Summit held in April 2024.

Also speaking, the Acting Director of the AU Counter-Terrorism Centre, Idriss Lalalli, said terrorist organisations, including the Islamic State West Africa Province, Boko Haram and Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, were expanding their activities through digital technologies.

He said, “Across West Africa and the Sahel today, ISWAP, Boko Haram and JNIM are extending their reach through technology. They recruit on social media platforms, move and conceal funds via mobile money, gift cards and cryptocurrencies.

“They buy weapons on darknet marketplaces, communicate over satellite links beyond our networks, and fly drones across borders, using artificial intelligence to tailor propaganda and evade detection.”

Lalalli warned that the speed and relatively low cost of using digital tools had enabled terrorist cells to reach wider audiences and move faster than security agencies could respond.

“What makes this difficult is speed and cost. A cell with a modest budget can now reach audiences far beyond its physical presence and move faster than our procedures can respond. The capability to counter it remains thinly and unevenly distributed across our member states,” he said.

The director, however, said the capacity gap could be addressed through specialised training, regional coordination and stronger collaboration with private-sector operators.

Lalalli said the programme would equip participants with skills in cyber threat intelligence, open-source intelligence, digital forensics and blockchain analysis to help them track online recruitment networks, preserve digital evidence and trace cryptocurrency transactions.

He stressed that the different areas of training needed to work together to support investigations and prosecutions.

The AU official also called for stronger partnerships with social media companies, telecommunications operators and financial service providers, noting that much of the infrastructure exploited by terrorist groups was privately owned.

“You leave as this continent’s first cohort of trainers in this domain. You will leave here not just carrying home a certificate, but a responsibility. The Centre will stand behind you. But the multiplier is you,” he said.

The three-day conference brought together participants from West Africa and the Sahel, alongside representatives of the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States, the Multinational Joint Task Force, regional intelligence structures and international organisations.

Source: punchng.com

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