PFIPC Probe Widens As CBN, Civil Service Office Distance Themselves

The PFIPC controversy has widened after the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation distanced themselves from the disputed council during a House of Representatives inquiry.

The update adds fresh testimony to questions around how the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council was presented, funded and linked to government offices. NaijaTrend earlier reported Adeyemi Adeniyi’s explanation of how the disputed body entered the 2026 budget here.

Vanguard reported that Hamisu Abdullahi, a CBN director who represented the governor, told the committee that the apex bank opens accounts for government agencies only on authorisation from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation. He said the bank had received a mandate in PFIPC’s name but that the accounts were inactive.

The civil service office also denied setting up the council. Its representatives said the office does not have the authority to create government agencies, although it received a request in August 2025 for approval of PFIPC’s organisational structure.

Daily Post reported that Head of Service Esther Walson-Jack told lawmakers the office space used by PFIPC was allocated to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja.

Channels TV separately reported that Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, appeared before the ICPC on Monday. His lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, said Gbajabiamila honoured the invitation, gave his testimony and returned to his duty post.

The House committee is investigating the council’s establishment and how it entered the 2026 budget. The matter also involves allegations and counter-allegations between Gbajabiamila and Adeniyi Adeyemi, who has presented himself as director-general of the disputed council.

Sources: Vanguard, Daily Post, Channels TV