Alleged Bribery Scandal: Suspend, probe Gbajabiamila, Atiku tells Tinubu

Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has called on President Bola Tinubu to suspend his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, and order an independent investigation into bribery allegations levelled against him, warning that indifference on the matter is not an option.

Atiku made the call in a statement issued on his behalf by his media office on Tuesday while reacting to allegations by the Director General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, who accused Gbajabiamila of soliciting a N400 million bribe.

He noted that Gbajabiamila’s response, in which he claimed the agency in question does not exist, has only deepened questions around the Chief of Staff’s credibility.

He asked how N27.4 billion could be allocated in the budget to an agency that allegedly does not exist without raising serious concerns.

The ADC presidential candidate explained that the Chief of Staff’s claim only created more problems for the government.

According to him, allocating N27.4 billion to an agency that doesn’t exist puts question marks on credibility of the entire 2026 national budget.

The Waziri Adamawa said this alleged colossal budgetary fraud cannot be swept under the carpet by weak and unconvincing explanations by the Chief of Staff.

The former Vice President recommended that the Chief of Staff should be suspended, and an independent investigation be carried out to establish the whole truth about this national scandal.

“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,” he advised.