Show Nigerians The Footage!’ – Sowore Demands Video Of ICPC Quizing Gbajabiamila

Human rights activist and former African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has called on the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to release the complete, unedited video of its interrogation of the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.

Sowore argued that making the footage public would allow Nigerians to determine whether the presidential aide was properly questioned over the alleged Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) scandal.

He made the demand in a post on on Tuesday while reacting to the ICPC’s clarification that Gbajabiamila was not arrested but voluntarily honoured an invitation from the commission.

Dismissing the agency’s explanation, Sowore questioned the credibility of the investigation.

He wrote, “If the ICPC truly interrogated Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, they should release the full, unedited video recording to the public now.

“All these gimmicks won’t work. We know this is just another smokescreen.”

However, the activist did not provide evidence to support his claim that the interrogation was merely a diversion.

Earlier, the ICPC refuted reports that Gbajabiamila had been arrested in connection with its investigation into the PFIPC.

According to the commission, the Chief of Staff appeared at its Abuja headquarters on Monday in response to an invitation from investigators, where he answered questions relating to the establishment and activities of the purported council before leaving.

The anti-graft agency stated:

“The Commission confirms that the Chief of Staff’s visit was at the invitation of its investigators and forms part of its ongoing efforts to establish all relevant facts in the matter.

“He was not arrested; he willingly honoured the invitation.”

The commission, however, did not disclose the details of the questions put to Gbajabiamila or the responses he gave.

Tinubu Ordered Probe

President Bola Tinubu had directed the ICPC to investigate how the purported organisation allegedly operated from the Federal Secretariat in Abuja for nearly two years without any recognised legal backing.

The council was allegedly headed by Adeniyi Adeyemi, who is accused of presenting himself as its Director-General.

The Federal Government has since disowned the PFIPC, while investigators continue to examine how it allegedly gained access to government offices, official documents and financial structures.

The controversy has also triggered a parallel investigation by the House of Representatives.

During a hearing on Monday, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) disclosed that two foreign-currency domiciliary accounts had been opened for the purported agency after receiving a mandate from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

CBN Director of Banking Services, Hamisu Ibrahim, told lawmakers that one account was denominated in United States dollars and the other in British pounds.

He explained that the accounts were never activated because no authorised officials came forward to operate them, adding that both accounts remained dormant and recorded no transactions.

Adeyemi has since been arrested and is currently facing prosecution over allegations relating to the establishment and operation of the purported council. The charges remain before the court and have yet to be determined.