PFIPC Probe: Opposition Leaders, Teams Divided Over Calls For Gbajabiamila’s Resignation

Political leaders and civil society organisations have expressed conflicting views over calls for the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, to step apart amid an investigation into the controversial Presidential Overseas Funding Promotion Council (PFIPC).

Whereas some stakeholders argued that Gbajabiamila ought to quickly vacate workplace to ensure the independence of the probe, others maintained that investigators must be allowed to determine the info earlier than any administrative motion is taken.

Naija Information stories that the controversy centres on the PFIPC, which the Presidency has described as a non-existent Federal Government company.

The House of Representatives Advert Hoc Committee investigating the matter is probing how the purported council was registered, interacted with authorities establishments and allegedly secured an allocation within the 2026 Appropriation Act regardless of questions over its authorized standing.

Gbajabiamila grew to become linked to the controversy after Adeyemi Adeniyi, who described himself as Director-Basic of the PFIPC, was reported to have alleged that ₦400 million was paid by a proxy to facilitate his appointment.

The Presidency has rejected the allegation, describing Adeniyi as a fraudster and insisting that the Federal Government by no means created the council.

Gbajabiamila has additionally constantly denied wrongdoing.

Senior Officers Seem Earlier than Home Panel

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack; the Director of Banking Providers on the Central Bank of Nigeria, Abdullahi Hamisu; and the Director-Basic of the Budget Office of the Federation, Tanimu Yakubu, appeared earlier than the Home committee final week.

The officers have been requested to elucidate how the purported company allegedly gained recognition inside authorities circles and obtained a budgetary allocation regardless of the Presidency’s place that it had no authorized existence.

The event has intensified calls for a wider investigation into the roles performed by officers and establishments linked with the matter.

CUPP Calls for Non permanent Removing

The Coalition of United Political Events (CUPP) referred to as on Tinubu to quickly relieve Gbajabiamila of his place, arguing that such a step would strengthen public confidence within the investigation.

The coalition’s Appearing Nationwide Chairman, Peter Ameh, advised Sunday Punch that many Nigerians remained unconvinced that the probe could possibly be totally impartial whereas the Chief of Staff remained in workplace.

“Members of the Nigerian public stay dissatisfied and unconvinced {that a} truthful and clear probe can happen beneath the present circumstances.

“CUPP’s place, and that of many public commentators, stays that the one technique to unravel the reality about what occurred is for President Tinubu to alleviate his Chief of Staff of his place.

“It’s essential to pave the way in which for a radical, unbiased, and impartial investigation into the allegations. It’s the proper factor to do beneath the circumstances as a way to give legitimacy and credibility to the end result of the investigation.

“The president ought to have relieved his Chief of Staff from his place, even when just for a brief interval, to exhibit dedication to transparency, accountability, and the rule of regulation. Something wanting this can solely deepen public distrust and additional erode confidence in authorities. Nigerians deserve solutions, and so they deserve a course of that’s free from interference and suspicion,” Ameh stated.

Atiku Aide Seeks Impartial Panel

The Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Phrank Shaibu, additionally referred to as for an impartial investigation.

Shaibu stated the controversy shouldn’t be decreased as to if Tinubu ought to take away Gbajabiamila, insisting that the extra necessary difficulty was establishing what occurred and figuring out these accountable.

“The contradictory accounts from the Workplace of the Accountant-Basic of the Federation and the Central Bank of Nigeria over the institution and operation of the PFIPC have raised critical questions that can not be resolved by official denials or public relations.

“If President Tinubu is really dedicated to accountability, each public official linked with the matter, no matter workplace or standing, must be made accessible for investigation. The place crucial, such officers ought to step apart to make sure that the method will not be compromised and that the investigation is seen to be neutral,” he stated.

Shaibu argued that quickly stepping apart shouldn’t robotically be interpreted as an admission of wrongdoing.

“This isn’t about defending or sacrificing any particular person. It’s about preserving the integrity of public establishments and restoring public confidence in authorities. Nigerians should know who authorised what, who benefited, and whether or not public funds or establishments have been misused.

“Something wanting a radical, impartial investigation will solely deepen public suspicion and reinforce the notion that there are highly effective people who’re above accountability,” he added.

Bode George Expresses Doubt Over Probe

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, nonetheless, expressed scepticism concerning the doubtless end result of the investigation.

George linked his considerations to what he described as declining confidence within the nation’s establishments, notably the judiciary.

“Prior to now, solely 10 per cent of our judicial officers could possibly be stated to be dangerous. At the moment, you may solely say {that a} paltry 10 per cent of members of the judiciary is sweet. Consequently, what are we anticipating from the probe? What has the ‘boy’ Adeyemi whom they’ve arrested advised them?

“Aside from the safety of lives and property, at the moment crucial difficulty Nigerians ought to concern themselves about is the 2027 election. They need to try to take again their nation,” he stated.

Analyst Faults Home Panel

Political analyst, Jackson Ojo, additionally criticised the Home committee, questioning why Gbajabiamila had not been invited to seem earlier than it.

Ojo stated the Chief of Staff ought to have been among the many first individuals summoned due to the allegations linking his workplace to the controversy.

“The Home investigating panel began wrongly. Aside from Adeyemi, crucial individual to have on floor from Day One is Gbajabiamila. Why did they fail to ask him for questioning, if solely to clear his title?

“For not inviting him, they’ve already given the impression that they aren’t involved in discovering out what actually occurred,” he stated.

Okei-Odumakin Backs Gbajabiamila

Human rights activist and founding father of Girls Come up, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, took a special place, saying accessible data didn’t set up wrongdoing in opposition to the Chief of Staff.

She stated stories indicated that Gbajabiamila had alerted related authorities to the alleged fraud in 2025 and had described the PFIPC as non-existent.

“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 related authorities to research the rip-off, which led to the arrest of Prince Adeyemi Adeniyi in October 2025.

“The identical DG of the phantom company publicly famous that he by no means met Gbajabiamila nor did he pay any cash to his account for procurement of appointment.

“Given such stance, one would have assumed that the investigation arrange by the Federal Government is finished to unravel the culprits and suspects with incriminating proof on the matter,” she acknowledged.

CISLAC Cautions Towards Untimely Judgment

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre additionally urged warning, saying the emphasis ought to stay on establishing the info quite than instantly eradicating any official.

CISLAC Government Director, Auwal Ibrahim Rafsanjani, stated the central concern must be transparency, accountability and restoration of confidence in public establishments.

“The central difficulty is the pressing want to determine the reality, guarantee accountability, and restore public confidence within the integrity of presidency establishments,” he stated.

Rafsanjani argued that the reported means of the purported company to work together with authorities establishments, function banking preparations and safe official recognition raised broader questions on weaknesses in authorities oversight.

He cautioned in opposition to figuring out culpability on the idea of allegations alone.

“At this stage, it will be untimely to conclude that any specific official must be eliminated solely on the idea of public allegations or hypothesis.

“In a constitutional democracy, accountability have to be guided by proof, due course of, and the rule of regulation, not public stress or political expediency,” he stated.

He, nonetheless, acknowledged that non permanent administrative measures could possibly be thought-about the place an official’s continued presence may have an effect on the credibility of an investigation.

“CISLAC believes that the place the continued presence of any public official—no matter rank—may fairly undermine the credibility, independence, or public confidence in an investigation, acceptable administrative measures could also be thought-about in accordance with the regulation. Such measures shouldn’t be interpreted as a declaration of guilt however as a dedication to defending the integrity of the investigative course of,” Rafsanjani stated.

He urged Tinubu to authorise “an impartial investigation involving all related regulation enforcement and oversight establishments, with the findings made public.”