The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately suspend the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, following allegations linking him to the controversy surrounding the disputed Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
The opposition party made the demand in a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, arguing that Gbajabiamila’s temporary removal from office would allow for what it described as a transparent, credible and impartial investigation into the allegations.
According to the NDC, the controversy has raised serious questions about accountability, transparency and governance within the current administration. The party referenced claims made by Prince Mathew Adeniyi Adeyemi, who has publicly identified himself as the Director-General of the PFIPC despite the Presidency maintaining that no such government agency exists.
The party alleged that the disputed agency was used to facilitate financial activities despite its non-recognition by the Presidency. It questioned how an organisation officially described as non-existent could reportedly operate government-linked financial accounts, including a Treasury Single Account (TSA), a domiciliary account and a pound sterling account allegedly opened with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The NDC also expressed concern over claims that the agency received allocations in the 2026 budget and that hundreds of staff positions were reportedly approved for it. According to the party, these allegations warrant a thorough investigation to determine whether established government procedures were followed.
The opposition further cited allegations made by Adeyemi, who claimed that he lawfully headed the organisation and accused senior government officials of attempting to frustrate its operations. Among the claims referenced by the NDC were allegations that the Chief of Staff requested a significant portion of the agency’s proposed take-off funding and that appointments associated with the organisation involved financial inducements.
It is important to note that these allegations remain unproven. Gbajabiamila has not been found guilty of any wrongdoing, while the Presidency has consistently denied the existence of the PFIPC and has described Adeyemi as an impostor.
The Presidency, through presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, has previously rejected Adeyemi’s claims, insisting that the PFIPC is not a recognised government agency and accusing him of impersonation and forgery of official documents. The matter is currently before the court.
Despite the official denial, the NDC maintained that the seriousness of the allegations requires an independent investigation rather than what it described as public denials through official statements.
The party also called for investigators to examine the reported financial activities linked to the disputed agency, including its alleged accounts, budgetary allocations, staffing approvals and related transactions.
In addition, the NDC urged authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of Babatunde Tanimola, identified as an intermediary in the dispute, as well as claims by Adeyemi that he survived multiple assassination attempts. The party recommended that Adeyemi be granted witness protection while investigations continue.
The opposition further requested that all relevant government institutions, including 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, cooperate fully with any investigation into the matter.
The NDC also 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 launch comprehensive investigations into the allegations without political interference.
According to the party, Nigerians deserve a transparent process capable of establishing the facts surrounding the controversy. It stressed that anyone found culpable after due legal process, regardless of position or political affiliation, should be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
As legal proceedings continue and investigations unfold, the controversy surrounding the alleged PFIPC remains one of the most closely watched political issues in Nigeria, with both the Presidency and Prince Adeyemi maintaining sharply opposing positions over the existence and legitimacy of the organisation.
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