Official documents obtained by Saturday PUNCH have revealed that the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) received, acknowledged, and acted on correspondence from the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) months before the Presidency publicly disowned it.
The SGF’s office formally forwarded a request by self-styled Director-General Adeniyi Adeyemi seeking office accommodation from recovered Federal Government properties through the EFCC. The correspondence, dated November 21, 2024, was signed by Permanent Secretary Nnamdi Maurice Mbaeri on behalf of the SGF.
The Presidency has listed Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila and 10 others as witnesses in the criminal case against Adeyemi. The ADC and NDC have demanded Gbajabiamila’s immediate removal and an independent probe. Civil society groups have also called for an investigation.
Key Points:
The SGF’s involvement contradicts the Presidency’s claim that PFIPC never existed
Official government channels processed the agency’s requests for months undetected
The scandal exposes systemic weaknesses in government oversight and accountability
Opposition parties are using the scandal to pressure the Tinubu administration
The case may have significant political fallout ahead of the 2027 elections
The opposition and civil society are demanding an independent investigation and Gbajabiamila’s removal. The Presidency insists the agency was fictitious and that Adeyemi is a “con artist.” The court case continues.
Sources: Saturday PUNCH, SGF Office documents, Premium Times
