Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has called on President Bola Tinubu to suspend his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, over allegations linked to the ₦27.4 billion budgetary allocation to the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
In a statement issued on Tuesday, June 30, by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, and signed by the Atiku Media Office, the former vice president urged the president to demonstrate accountability by allowing an independent investigation into the matter.
The call follows allegations by Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, Director General of the PFIPC, that he was asked to pay a ₦400 million bribe, as well as Gbajabiamila’s reported claim that the agency does not exist.
Reacting to the development, Atiku questioned how funds could have been appropriated for an agency reportedly described as non-existent.
According to him, “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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Atiku argued that the Chief of Staff’s explanation had raised fresh concerns rather than resolving the controversy.
The former vice president said allocating such a huge sum to an agency allegedly lacking legal existence cast doubt on the credibility of the 2026 national budget.
Atiku maintained that the issue should not be dismissed with what he described as weak and unconvincing explanations.
He recommended that Gbajabiamila be suspended while an independent probe is conducted to establish the facts surrounding the allegations.
“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 advised.