Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has urged President Bola Tinubu to suspend his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, over allegations of a ₦400 million bribery scandal and concerns surrounding a ₦27.4 billion budget allocation.
In a statement released on Tuesday through the Atiku Media Office, the former vice president said the President must demonstrate his commitment to transparency and accountability by allowing an independent investigation into the allegations.
Atiku was reacting to claims made by Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), against Gbajabiamila. He also questioned reports that the Chief of Staff allegedly stated that the PFIPC does not exist.
According to Atiku, such a claim raises serious questions about the inclusion of ₦27.4 billion in the 2026 budget for an agency reportedly described as non-existent.
He argued that the explanation attributed to Gbajabiamila had only intensified concerns over the credibility of the budget.
“The Chief of Staff’s claim only creates more questions for the government. If an agency does not exist, how was ₦27.4 billion allocated to it in the 2026 budget? This puts a serious question mark on the credibility of the entire budget,” Atiku said.
The former vice president described the allegations as too significant to be dismissed, insisting that any suspected budgetary irregularities should be subjected to an independent and transparent investigation.
He maintained that the allegations could not be overlooked through what he described as unconvincing explanations.
Atiku called on President Tinubu to temporarily suspend Gbajabiamila while investigations are carried out, stressing that public officials must be held to the same standard of accountability regardless of their position or relationship with the President.
He said good governance depends on transparency and accountability, adding that no individual should be shielded from scrutiny.
According to Atiku, the amount involved is substantial and deserves thorough investigation.
“The rule of law must prevail. President Tinubu should demonstrate his commitment to accountability by ensuring that this matter is independently investigated,” he stated.
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