Explosive 'Gbajagate' Scandal Deepens: Reps Probe Unmasks Fake Agency Documents, Demands Accountability!

The House of Representatives has publicly declared the appointment letter presented by Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claimed to be the director-general of the contentious Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), as fake. This declaration by the ad hoc committee, chaired by Yusuf Gagdi, came during ongoing investigations into the alleged operations of the council and its recognition by government agencies. Committee findings, corroborated by evidence from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Nigeria Police Force, revealed that the signature on Adeyemi's purported appointment letter, supposedly signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, did not match genuine correspondence from the Chief of Staff's office. Furthermore, the Act presented as the legal instrument establishing the council was deemed inauthentic and not a genuine Act of the National Assembly.

Didi Walson-Jack, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, appeared before the committee to clarify her office's role in granting an authorized establishment and recruitment waiver to the disputed council. She explained that the controversy originated from interactions between her office and representatives of what was presented as the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC) and the PFIPC. The organization sought approval as a newly established federal government agency for an approved staffing structure and provisional recruitment waiver, which typically involves the Budget Office of the Federation and the Federal Character Commission. Essential documents required for such requests include a letter of appointment for the chief executive officer and the establishment Act. Walson-Jack stated that her office proceeded based on the documents provided by PEAC/PFIPC representatives.

Acknowledging shortcomings, Ms. Walson-Jack expressed surprise at her office's inability to detect the false establishment Act and the proven false letter of appointment. She admitted that more rigorous due diligence should have been conducted. After the controversy emerged, she personally reviewed the documents and, leveraging nearly three decades of legal practice, identified inconsistencies in the purported establishment Act, concluding it was not genuine. While initially hesitant to label the appointment letter as fake due to it being printed on State House letterhead and her not being a forensic expert, she later conceded an "obvious difference" when asked by Mr. Gagdi to compare the signature with authentic correspondence from the Chief of Staff's office. Following reminders about police forensic analysis, she agreed, stating, "Everything is not the same."

The committee's conclusion was further solidified by the Nigeria Police Force's forensic department, which confirmed that the disputed signature did not match the genuine signature of the Chief of Staff. Mr. Gagdi highlighted that the committee had obtained nine separate correspondences from the CoS office, all bearing consistent signatures, which starkly contrasted with the signature on the alleged appointment letter. He noted that the individual who prepared the fake letter did not even make a serious attempt to replicate the authentic signature. The forgery extended to the purported establishment Act, which lacked critical authentication features like an authentication number, Gazette number, and Gazette title, present in all genuine Acts of the National Assembly. Mr. Gagdi described the document as "totally mutilated" and unequivocally stated it was not an Act of the National Assembly.

In a related development, the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has called for the immediate suspension of the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, due to his alleged links to the controversial PFIPC. Ibrahim Zikirullahi, Executive Director of CHRICED, dismissed the ongoing House of Representatives investigation as a "distraction," arguing that no credible inquiry could be conducted while Mr. Gbajabiamila remains in office. He emphasized that past legislative investigations involving politically exposed persons often failed to yield accountability, suggesting this probe might be intended to create an impression of action while shielding influential officials. Mr. Zikirullahi urged the President to suspend Gbajabiamila if the latter lacked the integrity to resign voluntarily, citing temporary suspension as an internationally recognized administrative measure to protect investigative integrity.

The controversy surrounding the PFIPC gained traction after its self-acclaimed Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi, reportedly linked Mr. Gbajabiamila to the council's activities and alleged payments to the Chief of Staff. However, Mr. Gbajabiamila has consistently denied these allegations, describing them as false and an attempt to tarnish his reputation. He has since instituted a N15 billion defamation suit against Mr. Adeyemi, seeking N10 billion in general damages and N5 billion in aggravated damages for a sustained campaign of false and malicious allegations that he claims damaged his personal reputation and the integrity of his office. This legal action followed a cease-and-desist letter issued to Adeyemi demanding retraction of claims and removal of related publications.

CHRICED also broadened its critique of government actions, highlighting several areas of concern. Mr. Zikirullahi described the 2026 budget as an example of "fiscal recklessness," pointing to an allocation of ₦8.05 billion for church and mosque projects through ministries unrelated to religious infrastructure, including ₦6.14 billion for 52 mosque projects and ₦1.91 billion for seven church projects. He further questioned a ₦780 million allocation from the Office of the Deputy Speaker for church musical instruments, particularly in a context of widespread poverty and lack of access to basic services. Other questionable allocations included ₦500 million for an international communications campaign on religious persecution, a US$9 million contract for foreign lobbying, and ₦6.44 billion for FIFA World Cup qualifying activities despite Nigeria's non-qualification. The CHRICED boss also alleged the diversion of ₦22.8 billion allocated to the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education towards road projects, solar streetlights, and empowerment programs in Ogun and Katsina states, calling it a "betrayal of vulnerable children."

Furthermore, Mr. Zikirullahi raised alarms about Nigeria's escalating public debt, which has reached ₦159.28 trillion, despite government claims of increased revenue post-subsidy removal and tax reforms. He questioned why ministries, departments, and agencies continue to complain about poor budget releases amidst improved revenues and criticized the practice of extending annual budgets into subsequent fiscal years, which he argued weakens accountability. On constitutional reform, CHRICED supported genuine restructuring but criticized the process of passing the executive-backed State Police Bill, arguing that it overlooked crucial issues such as poor police welfare, state dependence on federal allocations, arms proliferation, and political violence. He cited the walkout by opposition lawmakers as evidence of a lack of broad consensus. Concerns were also voiced regarding increasing intimidation of opposition political parties, arbitrary arrests, and disruption of meetings, which he warned could undermine democracy. Mr. Zikirullahi called for independent investigations into the death of nurse Mary Habila at the home of Minister of Works David Umahi and clarification of conflicting accounts regarding the Oriire school abduction. Concluding his address, Mr. Zikirullahi urged President Tinubu to strengthen fiscal discipline, enhance accountability, and address questionable budget allocations. He also called on the National Assembly to restore integrity to the budget process and for anti-corruption agencies like the EFCC and ICPC to investigate alleged budget irregularities, emphasizing that transparency, accountability, and respect for constitutional norms are vital for Nigeria's democracy.