By Opeyemi Adelakun
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately suspend his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, over allegations linking him to the controversy surrounding the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
The opposition party said Gbajabiamila’s temporary removal from office was necessary to guarantee an independent, transparent and credible investigation into the growing scandal.
In a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, the NDC said the controversy surrounding the purported agency has raised serious concerns about transparency, accountability and governance under the Tinubu administration.
The party questioned how an agency the Presidency insists does not exist allegedly secured budgetary allocations in the 2026 Appropriation Act, opened multiple accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria, including domiciliary, Pound Sterling and Treasury Single Account (TSA) facilities, and reportedly obtained official approvals without government knowledge.
According to the NDC, the allegations expose possible failures within key government institutions, including the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and other federal agencies responsible for financial oversight.
The party also expressed concern over reports that the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation allegedly approved 314 staff positions for the agency, arguing that such approvals could not have been granted without the involvement of senior government officials.
The NDC further referenced allegations made by Prince Mathew Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claims to be the Director-General of the PFIPC.
According to the party, Adeyemi alleged that his appointment was facilitated through financial dealings involving senior government figures and claimed that Gbajabiamila demanded 48 per cent of the agency’s take-off grant, estimated at more than N27 billion.
Describing the allegations as grave, the NDC said they suggest a troubling pattern of corruption that requires immediate investigation rather than dismissal through official statements.
The party also cited the death of Babatunde Tanimola, described as an intermediary in the matter, who reportedly died in a fire incident at a hotel in Utako, Abuja, in October 2025 shortly after a petition connected to the case was allegedly submitted to the police.
It further referred to claims by Adeyemi that multiple attempts had been made on his life, including an alleged attack along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, insisting that such allegations underscore the need for urgent government intervention.
The NDC called on President Tinubu to establish an independent investigative panel to examine every aspect of the controversy, including the alleged budgetary allocations, approval of staff recruitment, opening of official accounts and all financial transactions linked to the purported agency.
It also urged investigators to examine the circumstances surrounding Tanimola’s death and the reported attacks on Adeyemi.
The party further demanded witness protection for Adeyemi to guarantee his safety throughout any investigation.
In addition, the NDC called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Nigeria Police Force to immediately commence a comprehensive investigation into the allegations.
The opposition party maintained that Nigerians deserve full disclosure of the facts and insisted that anyone found culpable, regardless of position or status, should face prosecution in accordance with the law.
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