A senior aide to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate for the 2027 election, Atiku Abubakar, has called for the immediate removal of President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, over allegations linked to an alleged appointment-for-cash scandal.
The call was made by Demola Olarenwaju, Atiku’s Senior Political Assistant, following the controversy surrounding Adeniyi Matthew, who claims to be the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.
Allegations Against Gbajabiamila
Matthew recently accused the Chief of Staff of demanding a share of the purported agency’s take-off grant in exchange for facilitating his appointment.
He alleged that Gbajabiamila sought ₦27.4 billion from the agency’s proposed take-off fund and also received ₦400 million, allegedly through intermediaries, to secure his appointment as director-general.
The allegations have generated widespread reactions amid ongoing investigations by relevant authorities.
Presidency Dismisses Claims
Responding to the allegations, the Presidency, through the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, dismissed the claims as false.
The Presidency maintained that neither Adeniyi Matthew nor the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council is recognised by the Federal Government, insisting that no such agency exists.
It also rejected the allegations against Gbajabiamila, describing them as baseless.
Olarenwaju Calls for Accountability
Reacting to the Presidency’s statement, Olarenwaju argued that the official response raised more questions than answers.
According to him, if Matthew fraudulently inserted himself into government records and budget documents without detection, the Chief of Staff should be held responsible for what he described as negligence and failure of oversight.
He further contended that if investigations establish that Gbajabiamila collaborated with Matthew in the alleged scheme, he should face criminal prosecution.
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“By the watery presidential rebuttal, Gbajabiamila is either guilty of connivance or guilty of negligence—no two ways about it.
“If that fellow scammed himself into Nigeria’s budget, then Gbajabiamila must be sacked for negligence and lack of due diligence.
“If the fellow connived with him in the scam, as we suspect based on available evidence, Gbajabiamila should be prosecuted. Either way, this ‘Chief of Staff’ must be held accountable,” Olarenwaju wrote on his 𝕏 account.
The allegations remain a subject of public debate, while the Presidency continues to deny any wrongdoing on the part of the Chief of Staff.