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Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Professionals Forum, Dr Sani Dawop Jijiwa, has dismissed allegations that the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, received a ₦400 million bribe in connection with the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), insisting there is no evidence linking the former Speaker to the claim.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Monday, Jijiwa urged Nigerians to allow the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to conclude its investigation before drawing conclusions.
“There is no evidence whatsoever that the Chief of Staff took ₦400 million. Nobody has come out to prove that. If somebody alleges that money exchanged hands, the appropriate agencies should investigate and establish the facts,” he said.
Jijiwa described the controversy surrounding the PFIPC as unfortunate, warning against convicting individuals in the court of public opinion while investigations are still ongoing.
“We should not be quick to condemn people. Let the ICPC do its work. If anyone is found culpable, the law should take its course,” he stated.
The APC chieftain also questioned how the PFIPC proposal, reportedly involving a budget of about ₦1.3 billion, was processed and approved, saying the circumstances surrounding the project require thorough scrutiny.
According to him, there are several unanswered questions, including the reported death of an individual allegedly linked to the controversy, which he said should also be investigated.
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“There are too many questions begging for answers. Even the death of the person reportedly involved is intriguing and deserves proper investigation,” he said.
Jijiwa suggested that the controversy may have been fuelled by personal ambition or vested interests rather than established facts.
“Sometimes people become victims of ambition. We need to separate allegations from evidence,” he added.
While acknowledging that the allegations have generated public concern, he maintained that no one should be declared guilty until investigators establish the truth.
He also called for stronger institutional safeguards to prevent similar controversies in future, recommending the creation of a due process mechanism for reviewing sensitive government initiatives before they receive approval.
According to him, strengthening transparency and accountability in government operations would help protect public institutions from avoidable scandals while preserving confidence in the administration.
