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Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former vice president and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), yesterday, weighed in on the allegations made by Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, Director General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) and called for the immediate suspension of President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, over allegations linking him to a N400 million bribery scandal.
He also raised fresh concerns over the allocation of N27.4 billion to what he described as a “non-existent” government agency.
In a statement issued by the Atiku Media Office, the former vice president urged President Tinubu to demonstrate his commitment to accountability by allowing an independent investigation into the allegations involving Gbajabiamila and ensuring that no public official is shielded from scrutiny.
Prince Adeyemi had accused the Chief of Staff of involvement in an alleged N400 million bribery scandal among others.
Atiku argued that Gbajabiamila’s reported claim that the PFIPC does not exist had only deepened public concerns rather than addressing them. According to Atiku, the explanation raises a more troubling question about the integrity of the 2026 national budget.
“How can you allocate N27.4 billion in the budget to a government agency that doesn’t exist without leaving more questions than answers?” he asked.
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The former vice president maintained that if the Chief of Staff’s position is correct, it would cast doubt on the credibility of the budget process, insisting that the alleged discrepancy cannot be dismissed through what he described as weak and unconvincing explanations.
He said the controversy had gone beyond the bribery allegation, arguing that the reported allocation of N27.4 billion to an agency allegedly described as non-existent amounted to a serious issue of public accountability that deserved thorough investigation.
Atiku said the alleged budgetary irregularity should not be swept under the carpet, stressing that transparency and accountability remain the cornerstone of good governance.
He consequently recommended the immediate suspension of Gbajabiamila to pave the way for an independent probe into what he described as a national scandal.
“Good governance is based on transparency and accountability and you can’t achieve that by protecting your family and friends. President Tinubu must lead by example by holding his Chief of Staff to the same standards of accountability as other public officials.
“N27 billion is not a joke. The rule of law must prevail in this issue. Let President Tinubu prove to Nigerians that he is sincerely committed to accountability in his administration,” Atiku said.
