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By Our Correspondent

Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has called for an independent investigation into fresh corruption allegations against President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, insisting that what he described as “#GbajaGate” is too serious to be ignored or swept under the carpet.

Atiku, in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Atiku Media Office, said silence, indifference and the passage of time would not erase the allegations, following a report by Gazette newspaper accusing Gbajabiamila of illegally appropriating tens of billions of naira in oil and gas royalties through what it described as a fake law allegedly used to obtain presidential approval.

The former Vice President said he was alarmed by what he called the scale of the allegations and the culture of impunity surrounding them.

“This issue goes beyond partisan politics; it is about the impunity of corruption that undermines the welfare and future of ordinary Nigerians,” Atiku said.

He argued that the Tinubu administration could not claim to be fighting corruption while allegedly overlooking serious accusations against one of its top officials.

“This level of corruption is unprecedented, and the government can’t pretend to be prosecuting opposition figures for corruption while corruption is growing like weed under its own nose,” he stated.

According to Atiku, no public official should enjoy immunity from scrutiny, insisting that Gbajabiamila should be subjected to the same standard applied to others accused of wrongdoing.

“You can’t preach the rule of law when your own officials are awarded with the trophy of untouchability,” he said.

The ADC presidential candidate demanded that Gbajabiamila be independently investigated to allow him the opportunity to respond to the allegations raised in the newspaper report.

Atiku drew parallels with the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, recalling that former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, was suspended to pave the way for an unhindered investigation into corruption allegations against him.

“Gbajabiamila shouldn’t be treated differently,” he said.

The former Vice President further alleged that the Chief of Staff had previously been linked to multiple corruption and bribery allegations, including claims relating to alleged misconduct in the United States, alleged bribe-for-appointments, an alleged ₦400 million bribery case involving the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, and the latest allegation concerning the alleged diversion of ₦54 billion from an oil and gas regulatory agency.

He argued that the Federal Government’s perceived reluctance to address the allegations undermines public confidence in its anti-corruption campaign.

“Given the apathetic and lackadaisical attitude of the Tinubu administration to the gales of corruption scandals against the Chief of Staff, it’s apparent that the government is just going through the motions to fool Nigerians,” Atiku said.

He added that democracy demands accountability from public office holders, warning that government officials should not prioritize personal enrichment while millions of Nigerians struggle with poverty, hunger and preventable diseases.

Editor’s Note: The allegations referenced by Atiku are claims contained in his statement and have not been established in court. At the time of filing this report, there was no official response from the Presidency or Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila to the latest allegations.