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 the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), an agency the Presidency insists does not exist.
In a statement issued on Friday and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, the opposition party expressed concern over allegations involving Gbajabiamila and Prince Mathew Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claims to be the Director-General of the PFIPC.
The NDC alleged that the purported agency was used to divert public funds with the support of senior government officials, describing the claims as a major test of transparency and accountability under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
According to the party, Adeyemi claimed the PFIPC received allocations in the 2026 national budget and successfully opened several accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria, including a domiciliary account, a pound sterling account and a Treasury Single Account.
The party questioned how an agency officially disowned by the Presidency could allegedly operate within Nigeria’s financial system, asking whether the Office of the Accountant-General knowingly processed forged documents and calling for a detailed explanation from the Federal Government.
The NDC also raised concerns over claims that the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation approved 314 staff positions for the agency, despite the Presidency’s insistence that the PFIPC does not exist.
It further cited allegations by Adeyemi that Gbajabiamila demanded 48 per cent of the agency’s take-off grant, reportedly worth over ₦27 billion, a request he allegedly refused. The party also referenced Adeyemi’s claim that he paid ₦400 million through intermediaries out of an alleged ₦600 million demanded to secure his appointment.
Describing the allegations as grave, the NDC said they suggest a pattern of institutional corruption and the alleged sale of public appointments.
The party also linked the controversy to the death of Babatunde Tanimola, described as an intermediary between Adeyemi and the Chief of Staff, who reportedly died in a hotel fire in Abuja in October 2025. It further noted Adeyemi’s claims that he survived multiple assassination attempts and was facing threats to his life.
As part of its demands, the NDC called on President Tinubu to suspend Gbajabiamila to allow for an impartial investigation and establish an independent panel to probe all aspects of the alleged PFIPC operations, including budgetary allocations, bank accounts, staffing approvals and financial transactions.
The party also urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Nigeria Police Force to investigate the allegations, while calling for witness protection for Adeyemi.
According to the NDC, Nigerians deserve a transparent investigation rather than official denials, insisting that anyone found culpable should be prosecuted regardless of status.
However, the Presidency has firmly rejected Adeyemi’s allegations, maintaining that the PFIPC is a fictitious organisation.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said investigations revealed that Adeyemi allegedly forged a presidential appointment letter purportedly signed by Gbajabiamila, operated a fake government agency and opened multiple bank accounts in the names of non-existent government institutions.
The Presidency disclosed that Gbajabiamila petitioned security agencies in October 2025 over what it described as a sophisticated forgery and impersonation scheme, leading to criminal charges against Adeyemi and two others.
It also stated that both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission had previously raised concerns over the purported agency, reiterating that no such body exists under the Tinubu administration.
Despite the government’s position, Adeyemi has continued to insist that his appointment, the PFIPC and all activities carried out under it are legitimate.
