Fresh pressure mounts as NDC demands Gbajabiamila’s removal over alleged scandal

Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC)

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) on Thursday intensified pressure on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to remove his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, pending an independent investigation into allegations surrounding the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), an agency the Presidency has said does not exist.

In a statement by Osa Director, National Publicity Secretary of the party on Friday, the opposition group urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to suspend Gbajabiamila to pave the way for what it described as an independent and transparent investigation into claims surrounding the so-called Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), an agency the Presidency has previously denied exists.

The party said the allegations, reportedly made by Prince Mathew Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claims to be the Director-General of the PFIPC, raise “grave questions” about accountability and governance under the Tinubu administration.

According to the NDC, Adeyemi alleged that the purported agency received allocations in the 2026 federal budget and was able to open a Treasury Single Account (TSA), a domiciliary account and a pounds sterling account with the Central Bank of Nigeria despite the Presidency’s insistence that no such agency exists.

The opposition party questioned how an agency disowned by the government could allegedly secure official financial accounts and obtain administrative approvals, including claims that the Head of the Civil Service approved 314 staff positions for it.

The NDC further referenced allegations that Gbajabiamila demanded 48 per cent of the agency’s take-off grant, said to amount to about N27.4 billion, a demand Adeyemi reportedly rejected.

It also cited claims by Adeyemi that he secured his appointment through the Chief of Staff after allegedly paying N600 million, of which N400 million was allegedly delivered through intermediaries while N200 million remained unpaid.

Describing the allegations as indicative of “institutionalised corruption,” the party argued that they suggested the existence of an organised system for the sale of public offices and called for a comprehensive investigation involving the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service.

The NDC also called for an investigation into the death of Babatunde Tanimola, identified as an intermediary in the alleged dealings, who reportedly died in a hotel fire in Abuja in October 2025, as well as claims by Adeyemi that he survived multiple assassination attempts.

Among its demands, the party urged the President to immediately remove Gbajabiamila from office, establish an independent investigative panel, compel the Chief of Staff to submit official documents signed since assuming office for forensic examination, and direct the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the Nigeria Police Force to commence a full investigation.

The NDC maintained that Nigerians deserve a transparent investigation rather than what it described as routine official denials, insisting that anyone found culpable, regardless of status, should be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

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