PFIPC: Pressure Mounts as Lawyer, Rights Groups, Political Parties Ask Gbajabiamila to Step Aside Pending Probe
ABUJA, Nigeria – Calls for the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, to temporarily step aside have continued to grow as prominent lawyer Liborous Oshoma, civil society organisations and political parties insist that such a move would help guarantee the credibility of ongoing investigations into the controversy surrounding the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
The controversy erupted after allegations and counter-allegations involving Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who claims to have been appointed to head the PFIPC, an agency the Presidency has maintained does not legally exist.
The Federal Government has accused Adeyemi of forgery, impersonation and operating a fictitious government agency, while Adeyemi has made allegations against senior government officials, including Gbajabiamila.
The Presidency has strongly denied the allegations against the Chief of Staff.
Liborous Oshoma Calls for Forensic Investigation
Speaking during an interview with News Central TV and later reiterating his position publicly, lawyer and public affairs analyst Liborous Oshoma argued that the integrity of any investigation would be better protected if the Chief of Staff temporarily vacates office.
According to Oshoma, stepping aside should not be viewed as an admission of guilt but as a demonstration of accountability and a commitment to due process while investigators examine the allegations through an independent forensic investigation.
CDHR Demands Independent Probe
Among the earliest organisations to make the demand was the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR).
In a statement jointly signed by its National President, Yinka Folarin, and National Secretary, Idris Afees, the organisation urged Gbajabiamila to voluntarily step aside pending the conclusion of an independent investigation.
The rights group stressed that its position should not be interpreted as a declaration of guilt but as a necessary measure to preserve public confidence, eliminate any perception of interference and ensure transparency throughout the investigative process.
The organisation also called on relevant agencies to investigate both the allegations against government officials and the claims against Prince Adeyemi, insisting that anyone found culpable should face the full weight of the law.
CHRICED Also Joins the Call
The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) similarly demanded an independent investigation.
The organisation called for the immediate suspension of officials linked to the controversy pending the outcome of investigations and urged the Federal Government to constitute an independent investigative panel comprising civil society representatives, anti-corruption experts and jurists.
CACOL Seeks Temporary Withdrawal
The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) also urged the Chief of Staff to voluntarily step aside.
According to the organisation, the allegations are serious enough to warrant an independent and transparent investigation capable of restoring public confidence in government institutions.
CACOL maintained that temporarily stepping aside should not be interpreted as an admission of wrongdoing but as respect for due process and the rule of law.
SDP Wants Gbajabiamila Out During Probe
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) became one of the latest political organisations to demand that Gbajabiamila vacate office pending investigations.
Speaking after the party’s National Executive Committee meeting in Abuja, SDP National Chairman Prof. Sadiq Gombe argued that public officers facing allegations of such magnitude should step aside until their names are cleared.
According to him, allowing the Chief of Staff to continue occupying such a sensitive office while investigations are ongoing could undermine public confidence in the process.
The party also questioned Gbajabiamila’s appointment to chair the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill while the PFIPC controversy remains unresolved.
Opposition Parties Join the Pressure
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has also called for Gbajabiamila’s immediate removal and demanded an independent investigation into the alleged PFIPC operations.
The party urged anti-corruption agencies, including the EFCC, ICPC and the Nigeria Police Force, to conduct comprehensive investigations into all allegations connected with the controversy.
Similarly, a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by former Minister Kabiru Turaki called for a forensic investigation and asked President Bola Tinubu to suspend officials linked to the allegations, particularly the Chief of Staff, pending the outcome of investigations.
Divergent Views Emerge
Not everyone agrees with the calls for Gbajabiamila to step aside.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) urged President Tinubu to uphold the principle of due process, insisting that no public official should be removed solely on the basis of allegations that have not been proven.
The student body argued that while corruption allegations should be thoroughly investigated, the constitutional presumption of innocence must also be respected.
Presidency Maintains Innocence
President Bola Tinubu has publicly expressed confidence in Gbajabiamila’s integrity, while the Presidency has continued to deny allegations linking the Chief of Staff to any wrongdoing.
The Federal Government has already directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the PFIPC controversy.
As investigations continue, the growing calls from lawyers, civil society organisations and political parties have intensified public debate over accountability, transparency and the standards expected of senior public officials.
Disclaimer: The allegations relating to the PFIPC remain under investigation. No court or investigative agency has found Femi Gbajabiamila guilty of any offence, and he has consistently denied wrongdoing.
