Atiku seeks Gbajabiamila’s suspension over alleged ₦400m bribery scandal

Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately suspend his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, over allegations of a ₦400 million bribery scandal.

The allegation was made by Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Atiku said Gbajabiamila’s suspension had become necessary to allow for an independent and transparent investigation into the bribery allegation as well as a separate controversy surrounding the agency’s inclusion in the 2026 national budget.

The former vice president noted that the Chief of Staff had previously dismissed the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council as a non-existent government agency.

However, Atiku argued that the claim contradicts the provisions of the 2026 Appropriation Act, which allocated ₦27.4 billion to the same council.

According to him, the apparent contradiction raises serious questions about the credibility of the Chief of Staff’s explanation and the integrity of the federal budget.

He warned the presidency against attempting to downplay the allegations or shield senior officials from scrutiny, insisting that the matter demands full accountability.

“How can you allocate ₦27.4 billion in the budget to a government agency that doesn’t exist without leaving more questions than answers?” Atiku queried.

He stressed that good governance can only thrive where transparency and accountability are upheld, urging President Tinubu to demonstrate impartiality by subjecting his close aides to the same standards expected of all public officials.

“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. ₦27 billion is not a joke,” Atiku said.

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