The House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council has cleared Femi Gbajabiamila of wrongdoing.

The committee’s chairman, Yusuf Gagdi (APC-Plateau), disclosed this in the panel’s preliminary report released in Abuja on Wednesday.

Mr Gagdi said the committee found no evidence linking the chief of staff to the president with the PFIPC’s creation or operations. He said findings showed that Mr Gbajabiamila neither authorised nor approved the establishment or operation of the fake agency.

The lawmaker noted that this contradicted allegations by the PFIPC’s purported director-general, Adeniyi Adeyemi, against Mr Gbajabiamila.

Mr Gagdi said evidence presented before the committee showed that a letter purportedly appointing Mr Adeyemi as director-general was fabricated.

He said the letter was falsely attributed to Mr Gbajabiamila, who neither issued nor signed it. The chairman said the letterhead and reference number used were also inconsistent with official State House correspondence.

Mr Gagdi said documentary evidence showed that Mr Gbajabiamila took steps to expose and investigate the purported organisation after receiving a formal alert.

“The chief of staff acted within one day of receiving an alert from the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission over suspected fraudulent activities,” he said.

He said Mr Gbajabiamila subsequently communicated with relevant security and investigative agencies over the matter. These agencies included the Nigeria Police Force, State Security Service, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Office of the National Security Adviser.

Mr Gagdi said the committee preliminarily commended Mr Gbajabiamila for what it described as timely security and administrative interventions. He stressed that the committee’s findings were preliminary and did not constitute the House’s final report or decision.

Mr Gagdi said the committee also found that no valid act of the National Assembly, executive order, or other lawful instrument established PFIPC. He said the panel uncovered alleged fabrication of presidential correspondence, a purported executive order and an altered document presented as an act of Parliament.

The chairman identified Mr Adeyemi as the principal person associated with the fake agency. He said the committee recommended further investigation into alleged financial transactions involving the organisation.

Mr Adeyemi alleged that Mr Gbajabiamila was behind PFIPC’s establishment and collected N400 million as a bribe. He also alleged that the chief of staff demanded an additional N200 million bribe.

Mr Gagdi admitted the PFIPC was captured in the 2026 budget and allocated office space at the Federal Secretariat Complex. He said it also had accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria and obtained an official vehicle bearing a government number plate.

The chairman said the fake agency secured the government facilities and other privileges through allegedly forged documents and fraudulent means.

(NAN)

Edo Queens midfielder Valentina Uroko has revealed that her stunning free-kick against USFA was the result of repeated practice in training, after the Nigerian champions powered into the final of the CAF Women’s Champions League WAFU-B qualifying tournament with a commanding 5-1 victory.

READ ALSO: Edo Queens Demolish USFA 5-1, Storm WAFU-B Champions League Final

Uroko produced a moment of brilliance at the Stade 4 Août in Ouagadougou on Wednesday, scoring from an almost unimaginable position to give Edo Queens a 3-0 lead just before half-time.

The midfielder said she had repeatedly practised the technique during training and was delighted to see it finally produce a goal on the continental stage.

“I practise it in training and it is something that I kept trying, so I’m happy that it turned out good today,” Uroko said.

Her spectacular strike came in the 45th minute, shortly after Chioma Moses had doubled Edo Queens’ advantage.

Earlier, Atume Doosuur had opened the scoring in the 17th minute as the reigning NWFL champions established control of the semi-final.

Edo Queens returned from the break with even greater intensity, with Doshima Tarnum scoring directly from a corner just a minute into the second half to make it 4-0.

Aminat Folorunsho completed the scoring for the Nigerian side in the 62nd minute, effectively putting the contest beyond USFA before the hosts managed a consolation goal in the 91st minute.

The emphatic result sends Edo Queens into the WAFU-B final, keeping their hopes of regional glory and qualification for the CAF Women’s Champions League alive.

The Benin-based side had earlier opened their campaign with a remarkable 7-0 demolition of AS Garde Nationale of Niger Republic, followed by a 3-1 victory over ASEC Mimosas in their first two Group B matches.

Their only defeat came in the final group game when Ghanaian champions Ampem Darkoa Ladies edged them 2-1 on Sunday.

Edo Queens could now meet Ampem Darkoa again in the final, setting up the possibility of a rematch with the Ghanaian champions.

Despite scoring one of the highlights of the tournament and helping Edo Queens reach the final, Uroko insisted that the team must remain focused.

“I will remain focused and not carry it away because we are not there yet,” she added.

For Uroko, the spectacular free-kick was a reward for persistence in training. For Edo Queens, however, the bigger prize is now within touching distance.