By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, has sued for the immediate removal from office of the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, over his alleged involvement in the controversy relating to the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, PFIPC.
This is as the party called for the institution of an independent probe panel to carry out a thorough inquest into the actual circumstances surrounding the phantom interventionist agency.
The Source reports that Prince Mathew Adeniyi Adeyemi, the acclaimed Director -General DG of the PFIPC had accused Gbajabiamila of not only being aware of his appointment as the agency’s head, but also its operations, including the allocation of office space , opening of CBN domiciliary accounts, 2026 budgetary allocations, and designation of no fewer than 300 staffers for the agency from the Office of the Head of Service HoS of the Federation.
Adeyemi particularly alleged that Gbajabiamila requested and collected N400 million by proxy to facilitate his appointment as the agency’s DG., with an outstanding balance of N200 million to be paid to him.
However ,the Presidency, in a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga on Wednesday, while exonerating the Chief of Staff, described Adeyemi as a conman who is already facing prosecution over his dubious activities in relation to the controversial interventionist agency.
However, many, including the opposition political camp appear not to be persuaded by the seemingly feeble defence put up by the Presidency, with deafening campaigns being mounted for an independent and unfettered investigation of the entire development.
In a statement from its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, the NDC, while describing the allegations against Gbajabiamila as damning and troubling, insisted that the only way anxious and concerned Nigerians would be assuaged is for the President’s Chief of Staff to be eased out of office and investigation conducted to unravel the facts behind the controversy.
The Party maintained that the scandal raises critical questions bordering the level of accountability, transparency, and the integrity of Tinubu’s administration.
The NDC urged all relevant authorities, including the anti-corruption commissions to prioritize the investigation of the sordid affairs surrounding the non-existent agency.
The NDC statement reads in part:
“The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has been alarmed by the damning allegations of corruption involving the Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, and one Prince Mathew Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claims to be the Director-General of the so-called Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
“The non-existent agency was, allegedly, used to siphon public funds, with the active collusion and facilitation by the Chief of Staff, Gbajabiamila.
“This scandal raises fundamental questions about the level of transparency, accountability, and the integrity of the Tinubu administration.
“According to the allegations by Prince Adeyemi, the PFIPC received budgetary allocations in the 2026 budget and successfully opened a Domiciliary Account, a Pound Sterling Account, and a Treasury Single Account (TSA), all domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria. This development is baffling, given that the Presidency has publicly disclaimed the existence of any such agency.
“The NDC finds it deeply troubling that an agency the Presidency claims does not exist could open multiple high-level financial accounts at the apex bank. For an individual to open a domiciliary account, stringent documentation is required. How then was a fictitious agency able to open such accounts without the necessary documentation?
“Did the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation knowingly process forged documents? The Presidency owes Nigerians an urgent clarification on this matter.
“Equally disturbing is the claim that the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation approved 314 staff positions for this supposedly non-existent agency. The NDC wonders how such a significant administrative action could occur without the knowledge of the Presidency and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
“Is the Tinubu administration so clueless and incompetent that major decisions bypass its principal officers? More grievous is the allegation that the Chief of Staff demanded 48% of the agency’s takeoff grant amounting to 27,395,510,136, a request Prince Adeyemi reportedly rejected, which invariably resulted in a public spat.
“Adeyemi further admitted that he fraudulently secured his appointment through the Chief of Staff for the sum of N600 million, with #400 million allegedly paid through proxies to the Chief of Staff, with a balance of 200 million outstanding, a default that reportedly contributed in triggering the current denial of the agency’s existence by aides of the President.
“These are not mere allegations; they point to a disturbing pattern of institutionalised corruption, including the alleged sale of appointments to the highest bidders, a notorious trademark of the Tinubu administration.
“The NDC believes this scandal further confirms that the current administration has entrenched and legitimised corruption as a way of governance in Nigeria. The situation is further compounded by the mysterious death of Mr Babatunde Tanimola, the intermediary between Prince Adeyemi and the Chief of Staff, who reportedly died in a fire accident at a hotel in Utako, Abuja, on October 22, 2025, just a day after the Chief of Staff’s petition was received by the Police.
“Prince Adeyemi has also raised an alarm over multiple assassination attempts on his life, including a brazen attack along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway on September 7, 2025. He also cried out recently that there is an attempt by certain forces in government to eliminate him.
“In light of the foregoing, the NDC demands as follows, The immediate removal of the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, to allow for a full, unbiased investigation, as his continued stay in office constitutes a clear conflict of interest and a threat to the integrity of any probe.
“The President should, without delay, constitute an independent investigative panel to thoroughly examine all aspects of this scandal, including the operations of the alleged PFIPC, budgetary allocations, account openings, staff approvals, and financial transactions.
“The panel must also investigate the mysterious death of Mr Babatunde Tanimola and the assassination attempts on Prince Adeyemi, with a view to uncovering the full truth and bringing perpetrators to justice. Similarly, Adeyemi should immediately be given witness protection privileges.
“The Chief of Staff should be compelled to produce all official documents signed since assuming office for forensic analysis.
“All relevant actors, including officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Office of the Accountant-General, and the Head of Civil Service, should be questioned.”
“The EFCC, ICPC, and Nigeria Police Force must immediately commence a full-scale investigation into this matter without fear or favour.”
NDC declared that the use of “mere defensive press releases” from the presidency as a reflective ploy will not be accepted.
“Nigerians deserve to know the truth through a transparent process that promotes fairness and justice. The culture of impunity and the brazen sale of public appointments must end.
“The NDC stands firmly with the people of Nigeria in demanding accountability. Anyone found culpable in this sordid affair, no matter how highly placed, must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law,”
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