The House of Representatives panel has cleared the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, of involvement in the activities of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.
The House Ad Hoc Committee probing the alleged inclusion of the organisation in the Federal Government’s budget framework said it found no evidence that Gbajabiamila approved, established, or participated in the council’s activities.
The committee chairman, Yusuf Gagdi, disclosed this on Wednesday while presenting the panel’s preliminary findings at a press briefing televised by TVC.
The panel said its investigation showed that Gbajabiamila instead alerted security and investigative agencies after concerns about the organisation were brought to his attention.
It said the concerns were first raised by the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission over suspected fraudulent activities and the alleged misuse of institutional materials.
According to the committee, the Chief of Staff responded within a day by contacting the Nigeria Police Force, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
It added that he also directed administrative verification through relevant government institutions.
The panel said Gbajabiamila later sent further communications seeking investigations and appropriate action when additional concerns emerged, including those surrounding a proposed world investment summit.
“The documentary evidence presently before the Committee does not establish that the Chief of Staff authorised, approved, established or participated in the activities of the purported organisation.
“On the contrary, the evidence demonstrates repeated steps to secure investigation, institutional verification and appropriate administrative action,” the committee said.
The committee consequently commended Gbajabiamila, on a preliminary basis, for the security and administrative measures he took whenever the matter was brought to his attention.
The lawmakers also said they established that a letter purportedly appointing Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi as Director-General of the organisation was forged and falsely attributed to the Presidency.
