The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has called on President Bola Tinubu to sack his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, with immediate effect, citing a massive corruption scandal involving a fake agency and the sale of appointments. In a statement released on Friday, July 3, 2026, the NDC expressed alarm over the controversy surrounding Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Adeniyi Adeyemi, who is accused of forging government appointment letters.
Allegations of Fake Agency and Siphoning of Public Funds
Adeyemi allegedly forged documents to present himself as the Director-General of two non-existent agencies: the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) and the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC). For months, he paraded himself in this capacity, with photos circulating online showing him alongside prominent Nigerian figures. The presidency has denied granting him any appointment and stated that the agencies do not exist. A lawsuit has been filed against Adeyemi amid the controversy.
According to the NDC, the non-existent agency was allegedly used to siphon public funds with the active collusion and facilitation of Gbajabiamila. The statement said, “This scandal raises fundamental questions about the level of transparency, accountability, and the integrity of the Tinubu administration.”
Mixed Reactions from Nigerians
The NDC’s call for Gbajabiamila’s removal has sparked mixed reactions from the public. A user named Youth in Process criticized Gbajabiamila’s performance, stating, “Entrusting a position of that magnitude to someone who struggles to scrutinise agencies under his own office, even when their proposals end up in the national budget, is an oversight Nigeria is already paying for and should never repeat.”
Another user, Diamond, argued that Gbajabiamila should have resigned voluntarily: “Ideally, he should have willingly resigned over this scandal while investigations into this massive and embarrassing fraud are ongoing, or his boss, the President, should have compelled him to resign. Unfortunately, in this part of the world, people caught up in all kinds of fraudulent ventures don't resign. If anything, they're celebrated and rewarded with even more appointments.”
Budget Line and Financial Irregularities
Sonofarinze highlighted the financial implications, noting, “A fake agency with a budget line in the 2026 appropriation. The Chief of Staff’s office answering a ₦27 billion question. ₦400 million allegedly paid for an appointment. However this ends, somebody’s story has holes.” This points to a potential budget line of ₦27 billion linked to the fake agency and a ₦400 million payment for an appointment.
Obinna Darlington Belonwu supported the sack of the Chief of Staff, saying, “Gbaja needs to leave the office now and also talk about those involved in the deal so they will face the law.”
Background of the Scandal
The controversy began when Adeniyi Adeyemi was alleged to have forged a government appointment letter to claim the position of Director-General of the PFIPC and PEAC. The presidency has denied the existence of these agencies and filed a lawsuit against Adeyemi. The NDC’s statement directly implicates Gbajabiamila in facilitating the alleged fraud, calling for his immediate dismissal.
The NDC’s demand adds to growing pressure on the Tinubu administration to address allegations of corruption and lack of transparency. As of the time of reporting, the presidency has not responded to the NDC’s call.
