Former presidential aide, Laolu Akande, has called on the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, to temporarily step aside to allow an independent investigation into the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) scandal.
Akande said asking the Chief of Staff to step aside was not an admission of guilt but a necessary step to protect the credibility of the investigation and restore public confidence in government institutions.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday, Akande said Nigerians would find it difficult to trust the outcome of any investigation if a key official linked to the controversy remained in office while the probe was ongoing.
He stressed that public officials occupying sensitive positions should be willing to make personal sacrifices in the interest of transparency and accountability.
According to him, allowing Gbajabiamila to temporarily vacate office would help eliminate perceptions of interference and demonstrate the Tinubu administration’s commitment to uncovering the truth.
Akande maintained that although the allegations against the Chief of Staff had not been proven, the integrity of the investigative process was paramount, particularly given the public interest generated by the scandal.
He argued that the government must avoid actions capable of eroding public trust, noting that transparency remains critical in addressing allegations involving senior public officials.
The PFIPC controversy centres on allegations surrounding a purported government agency that allegedly operated using forged official documents and approvals.
The matter has generated widespread public debate, prompting President Bola Tinubu to direct the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the allegations.
It would be recalled that Gbajabiamila had earlier denied the allegations, maintaining that his signature and official documents were forged and that he was a victim of the alleged fraud.
