The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has called for the immediate removal of the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, over allegations linking him to an alleged corruption scandal involving a purportedly non-existent government agency and the alleged sale of public appointments.
In a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, the opposition party said the allegations raised serious concerns about transparency, accountability and integrity within the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
The NDC alleged that the controversy centres on one Prince Mathew Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claims to be the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), an agency whose existence has reportedly been denied by the Presidency.
According to the party, the alleged agency was used to access public funds and secure official approvals despite questions surrounding its legal status.
“The non-existent agency was allegedly used to siphon public funds, with the active collusion and facilitation by the Chief of Staff, Gbajabiamila,” the statement claimed.
The party expressed concern over claims that the PFIPC allegedly received budgetary allocations in the 2026 budget and operated several accounts, including a Treasury Single Account (TSA), a domiciliary account and a pound sterling account.
“Given that the Presidency has publicly disclaimed the existence of any such agency, this development is baffling,” the NDC stated.
The party questioned how an agency allegedly regarded as non-existent could obtain approvals to open high-level financial accounts and secure administrative clearances.
“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,” the statement said.
The opposition party further alleged that approvals were granted for 314 staff positions within the agency, raising concerns about the extent of official involvement in its operations.
More significantly, the NDC referenced allegations made by Prince Adeyemi that Gbajabiamila allegedly demanded 48 per cent of the agency’s take-off grant, estimated at over ₦27 billion.
The party also cited claims that Adeyemi secured his appointment through the payment of ₦600 million, of which ₦400 million was allegedly paid through intermediaries, while ₦200 million remained outstanding.
“More grievous is the allegation that the Chief of Staff demanded 48% of the agency’s take-off grant amounting to ₦27,395,510,136,” the statement alleged.
The NDC maintained that while the allegations remain unproven, they warrant a comprehensive and independent investigation.
The party also linked the matter to the death of one Babatunde Tanimola, described as an intermediary between Adeyemi and the Chief of Staff, who reportedly died in a fire incident at a hotel in Utako, Abuja, in October 2025.
It further referenced Adeyemi’s claims of multiple assassination attempts and called for witness protection measures.
Demands
The NDC urged President Tinubu to immediately remove Gbajabiamila from office to allow for what it described as an impartial investigation.
“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 party said.
The opposition party also demanded:
The constitution of an independent investigative panel to examine the allegations;
A probe into the operations and finances of the PFIPC;
Investigation into the death of Babatunde Tanimola and alleged attacks on Adeyemi;
Forensic scrutiny of official documents allegedly linked to the matter;
Questioning of relevant officials, including those 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; and
Immediate investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Nigeria Police Force.
“The culture of impunity and the brazen sale of public appointments must end,” the statement added.
The Presidency and the Office of the Chief of Staff had not issued any official response to the NDC’s latest statement as of the time of filing this report.
The allegations contained in the NDC statement remain claims by the opposition party and have not been independently verified. No court of law has established wrongdoing against the individuals named.
