PFIPC probe: Political leaders differ on Gbajabiamila’s role

July 26, 2026 12:06 am

Political leaders and civil society groups have expressed divergent views on the role of President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, in the ongoing investigation into the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, an agency the Presidency has described as non-existent.

While some stakeholders called on Tinubu to direct Gbajabiamila to step aside pending the outcome of the House of Representatives’ investigation, others insisted that due process should be allowed to take its course before any action is taken.

The differing positions come as the House Ad Hoc Committee investigating the alleged “phantom” agency continues its probe into how the PFIPC was registered, gained access to government institutions and secured a budgetary allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Act despite lacking legal backing.

Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, was drawn into the controversy after the self-acclaimed Director-General of the PFIPC, Adeyemi Adeniyi, was quoted in several reports alleging that he paid N400m, through a proxy, to facilitate his appointment to head the agency.

The Presidency has described Adeniyi as a fraudster and insisted that the PFIPC was never established by the Federal Government.

Last week, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack; the Director of Banking Services at the Central Bank of Nigeria, Abdullahi Hamisu; and the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Tanimu Yakubu, appeared before the House committee to explain how the agency allegedly bypassed established bureaucratic procedures to obtain registration and secure allocation in the national budget.

Although Gbajabiamila has consistently denied any wrongdoing, several political leaders and civil society groups argued that he should temporarily vacate office to allow for an independent and credible investigation.

CUPP calls for temporary removal of CoS

Commenting on the matter, the Coalition of United Political Parties called on Gbajabiamila to step aside to ensure the credibility of the investigation.

The Acting National Chairman of the coalition, Peter Ameh, said public confidence in the government’s handling of the matter remained low.

Speaking with our correspondent on Saturday, Ameh said, “Members of the Nigerian public remain dissatisfied and unconvinced that a fair and transparent probe can take place under the current circumstances.

“CUPP’s position, and that of many public commentators, remains that the only way to unravel the truth about what happened is for President Tinubu to relieve his Chief of Staff of his position.

“It is necessary to pave the way for a thorough, unbiased, and independent investigation into the allegations. It is the right thing to do under the circumstances in order to give legitimacy and credibility to the outcome of the investigation.

“The president should have relieved his Chief of Staff from his position, even if only for a temporary period, to demonstrate commitment to transparency, accountability, and the rule of law. Anything short of this will only deepen public mistrust and further erode confidence in government. Nigerians deserve answers, and they deserve a process that is free from interference and suspicion.”

Atiku’s aide demands independent probe

Also, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, Phrank Shaibu, said the issue extended beyond Gbajabiamila’s fate, stating that the Federal Government should establish an independent panel to investigate the matter.

Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, Shaibu said the issue was beyond whether the President should sacrifice his Chief of Staff, adding that Nigerians deserve the truth, and that the truth could only emerge through an independent, transparent and credible investigation.

He said conflicting accounts from key government institutions had deepened public concerns.

“The contradictory accounts from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Central Bank of Nigeria over the establishment and operation of the PFIPC have raised serious questions that cannot be resolved through official denials or public relations.

“If President Tinubu is truly committed to accountability, every public official connected with the matter, regardless of office or status, should be made available for investigation. Where necessary, such officials should step aside to ensure that the process is not compromised and that the investigation is seen to be impartial,” he added.

According to Shaibu, asking public officials implicated in the controversy to step aside should not be viewed as a punishment.

“This is not about protecting or sacrificing any individual. It is about preserving the integrity of public institutions and restoring public confidence in government. Nigerians must know who authorised what, who benefited, and whether public funds or institutions were misused.

“Anything short of a thorough, independent investigation will only deepen public suspicion and reinforce the perception that there are powerful individuals who are above accountability,” he said.

Bode George expresses doubts

However, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Bode George, expressed scepticism over the outcome of the investigation, citing what he described as declining public confidence in the judiciary.

He said, “In the past, only 10 per cent of our judicial officers could be said to be bad. Today, you can only say that a paltry 10 per cent of members of the judiciary is good. As a result, what are we expecting from the probe? What has the ‘boy’ Adeyemi whom they have arrested told them?

“Apart from the security of lives and property, today the most important issue Nigerians should concern themselves about is the 2027 election. They should strive to take back their country.”

House panel criticised

Meanwhile, a political analyst, Jackson Ojo, faulted the House committee chaired by Plateau lawmaker, Yusuf Gagdi, for failing to invite Gbajabiamila to testify.

“The House investigating panel started wrongly. Apart from Adeyemi, the most important person to have on ground from Day One is Gbajabiamila. Why did they fail to invite him for questioning, if only to clear his name?

“For not inviting him, they have already given the impression that they are not interested in finding out what truly happened,” he said.

Okei-Odumakin defends Gbajabiamila

But human rights activist and founder of Women Arise, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, stated that Gbajabiamila had no case to answer based on the available evidence.

She said reports indicated that the Chief of Staff had alerted authorities to the alleged fraud as far back as 2025.

“A report says that the Chief of Staff to President Tinubu initiated whistle-blowing on the matter in 2025, declaring the PFIPC non-existent. He wrote the relevant authorities to investigate the scam, which led to the arrest of Prince Adeyemi Adeniyi in October 2025.

“The same DG of the phantom agency publicly noted that he never met Gbajabiamila nor did he pay any money to his account for procurement of appointment.

“Given such stance, one would have assumed that the investigation set up by the Federal Government is done to unravel the culprits and suspects with incriminating evidence on the matter,” she stated.

CISLAC urges due process

Meanwhile, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre said the controversy should not be reduced to whether the President should remove his Chief of Staff but should instead focus on uncovering the truth.

Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, the Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Ibrahim Rafsanjani, said, “The central issue is the urgent need to establish the truth, ensure accountability, and restore public confidence in the integrity of government institutions.”

He said the existence of an entity that allegedly operated with apparent access to government offices, official recognition by public institutions, banking arrangements and interactions with several government agencies raised profound questions about institutional controls and oversight.

Rafsanjani cautioned against reaching conclusions before investigations were completed.

“At this stage, it would be premature to conclude that any particular official should be removed solely on the basis of public allegations or speculation.

“In a constitutional democracy, accountability must be guided by evidence, due process, and the rule of law, not public pressure or political expediency,” he stressed.

He, however, noted that temporary administrative measures could be justified if they would enhance the credibility of the investigation.

“CISLAC believes that where the continued presence of any public official—regardless of rank—could reasonably undermine the credibility, independence, or public confidence in an investigation, appropriate administrative measures may be considered in accordance with the law. Such measures should not be interpreted as a declaration of guilt but as a commitment to protecting the integrity of the investigative process,” he advised.

He described the PFIPC controversy as evidence of deep institutional weaknesses and urged President Tinubu to authorise “an independent investigation involving all relevant law enforcement and oversight institutions, with the findings made public.”

The House of Representatives’ investigation is expected to continue in the coming weeks as lawmakers seek to establish how the purported agency operated within government circles despite the Presidency’s insistence that it never legally existed.

Dirisu Yakubu

Dirisu Yakubu is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over a decade of experience covering parliament, politics, and development issues. He specializes in reporting that provides context and insight into legislative and governance matters. Dirisu’s work reflects extensive newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate and impactful journalism.

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