Controversy over Tinubu’s ‘phantom’ presidential council as DG accuses Gbajabiamila of ₦400m bribe
A major administrative and financial scandal is brewing within the presidency of Bola Ahmed Tinubu following a fierce war of words between the Chief of Staff (CoS) to the president, Femi Gbajabiamila, and Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-acclaimed Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
While the office of CoS has explicitly disowned the council, labeling it a “phantom” organization, official documents and budget allocations suggest otherwise, raising severe questions about accountability, budget padding, and systemic corruption at the highest level of government.
The disclaimer vs. the ₦1.3 billion reality
The controversy began when Gbajabiamila issued a public disclaimer dismissing the existence of the PFIPC. He warned foreign missions, financial institutions, and security agencies to disregard Prince Adeyemi, stating that no such office exists under the current administration.
“The unsuspecting public is hereby advised to note that such an office does not exist under this administration and no appointment has been made in that regard,” Gbajabiamila’s disclaimer read.
However, in a fiery press conference in Abuja, Adeyemi fought back, calling the Chief of Staff’s denial “derisory” and an “administrative error” so grave that Gbajabiamila should cover his face in shame and resign.
READ ALSO: LOAN petitions NBA national president over Kano branch election
To back his claims, Adeyemi pointed to the 2026 Federal Budget, which was fully scrutinized by the National Assembly and signed into law by President Tinubu. Investigations reveal that the “non-existent” council is explicitly captured on pages 50 and 51 of the 2026 budget with a total allocation of ₦1,302,978,784, with recurrent expenditure standing at ₦1,002,978,784 and capital expenditure at ₦300,000,000.
Other items in the budget include salaries, ₦573,260,187; allowances and social contributions, ₦229,718,596; Logistics for World Investment Summit 2026, ₦182,500,000; and Strategic Investment Negotiations, ₦11,000,000.
Adeyemi further revealed that the agency operates from a physical office space at the Federal Secretariat, has been functional for over a year, and holds a Treasury Single Account (TSA) with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)—a process that requires direct clearance from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
Bribery, kickbacks, and threats to life
Going beyond administrative contradictions, Adeyemi leveled damaging criminal allegations against the CoS. He claimed their relationship soured after he refused to part with a 48% kickback from an alleged ₦27.3 billion take-off grant meant for the agency.
Furthermore, Adeyemi alleged that Gbajabiamila collected ₦400 million by proxy to secure his appointment as the DG, with an outstanding balance of ₦200 million.
He said there have been subsequent attempts on his life following his refusal to cooperate.
Adeyemi has challenged President Tinubu to set up an independent investigative panel—including civil society and international organizations—to conduct a forensic audit of all documents signed by the Chief of Staff since taking office.
Official engagements with EFCC and government bodies
In contrast to claims that the council is a ghost entity, records show that Adeyemi has actively operated as the DG, holding high-level institutional engagements with various government stakeholders.
He led a delegation to the EFCC headquarters to collaborate on balancing anti-corruption fights with attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), where he was officially received by EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede.
The council met with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to brief them on the upcoming World Investment Summit.
Adeyemi hosted a delegation from the China Investment Business Development Commission (CIBDC) to discuss establishing the co-owned Nigeria-China Investment Group.
Backroom silence and political fallouts
Efforts to get a formal response from presidential spokespersons, Bayo Onanuga and Daniel Bwala, as well as National Assembly spokespersons, proved abortive as calls and messages went unanswered.
However, an anonymous source within the Budget Office of the Federation dropped a bombshell, indicating that the budget undergoes rigorous vetting and cannot simply capture a fake agency.
“All government agencies in the document are recognized agencies. The problem between the Chief of Staff to the President and the head of the PFIPC is a political fight… It is the National Assembly or the Presidency that can answer how it got into the 2026 budget.”
Mixed reactions trail the scandal
Reacting to the development, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar described the situation as a “national scandal” that threatens the credibility of the administration. He urged President Tinubu to suspend Gbajabiamila immediately and launch an independent probe. “Good governance is based on transparency… You can’t achieve that by protecting your family and friends,” Atiku stated.
Conversely, a coalition of diaspora and local youth groups—including the Assembly of Lagos Youths and Concerned Nigerians in Diaspora UK—defended the Chief of Staff. In a joint statement, they dismissed the allegations as unverified political grandstanding aimed at tarnishing the image of the former Speaker, urging the public to wait for facts rather than speculation.
Meanwhile, sources close to Prince Adeyemi report that he has been ordered “from above” to step back from the media for his own safety while the presidency decides its next line of action.
