Banner Online News

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has called for the immediate removal of the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, over what it described as a massive corruption scandal involving an alleged fictitious government agency, the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), and claims of the sale of public appointments.

In a strongly worded statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, the opposition party accused the Chief of Staff of being at the centre of allegations surrounding the controversial agency, which the Presidency has previously denied exists.

The NDC alleged that despite official denials, the purported PFIPC allegedly 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.

According to the party, the allegations raise troubling questions about accountability within the Tinubu administration.

“The non-existent agency was allegedly used to siphon public funds, with the active collusion and facilitation by the Chief of Staff,” the statement said.

The party questioned how an agency allegedly disowned by the Presidency could have secured high-level banking facilities and administrative approvals without the involvement of top government officials.

It also queried reports that the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation allegedly approved 314 staff positions for the agency, describing the development as evidence of serious institutional failures if proven.

The opposition party further referenced allegations made by Prince Mathew Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claims to be the agency’s Director-General, alleging that Gbajabiamila demanded 48 per cent of the agency’s proposed take-off grant, valued at over N27.3 billion.

The NDC also cited Adeyemi’s claims that he allegedly paid N400 million through intermediaries as part of a N600 million arrangement to secure his appointment, with an outstanding balance of N200 million.

It stressed that the allegations, if established, would amount to one of the gravest corruption scandals in recent times.

Describing the development as evidence of “institutionalised corruption,” the party alleged that the administration had entrenched the sale of public offices and appointments.

The statement also raised concerns over 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.

The NDC called for Adeyemi to be placed under witness protection pending the outcome of investigations.

Among its demands, the party urged President Bola Tinubu to immediately remove Gbajabiamila from office to prevent interference with investigations and to constitute an independent panel to probe the allegations.

It also demanded forensic scrutiny of official documents signed by the Chief of Staff since assuming office and called for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Nigeria Police Force, officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to investigate every aspect of the allegations.

“The NDC will not accept the usual tactic of issuing a mere defensive press release from the Presidency as a deflective ploy. Nigerians deserve to know the truth through a transparency process that promotes fairness and justice,” the statement added.

The Presidency has previously denied the existence of the PFIPC and dismissed claims linking the Chief of Staff to the alleged agency. As of the time of filing this report, there was no fresh official response from the Presidency to the NDC’s latest demands.

Full text of NDC’s statement reads:

NDC Demands Immediate Sack of Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, Over Massive Corruption Scandal Involving Fake Agency and Sale of Appointments

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 Pounds 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 even 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 documentations?

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 take-off grant amounting to N27,395,510,136, 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 N400 million allegedly paid through proxies to the Chief of staff, with a balance of N200 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 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 the light of the foregoing, the NDC demands as follows:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. The Chief of Staff should be compelled to produce all official documents signed since assuming office for forensic analysis.

5. All relevant actors, including officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Office of the Accountant-General, and Head of Civil Service, should be questioned.

6. The EFCC, ICPC, and Nigeria Police Force must immediately commence a full-scale investigation into this matter without fear or favour.

The NDC will not accept the usual tactic of issuing a mere defensive press release from the Presidency as a deflective ploy. Nigerians deserve to know the truth through a transparency 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.
Signed:

Osa Director
National Publicity Secretary
Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC)