Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has called on President Bola Tinubu to direct his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to step aside pending an independent investigation into the controversy surrounding the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
Falana said the circumstances surrounding the alleged agency have raised serious questions about accountability within the Presidency and require a transparent probe to restore public confidence.
Speaking on Eagle 102.5 FM on Friday, the senior advocate argued that the Federal Government owes Nigerians an explanation over how an agency allegedly not established by law was said to have secured budgetary allocations, office accommodation, bank accounts and personnel.
His remarks followed the ongoing dispute involving Adeniyi Adeyemi, who has identified himself as the Director-General of the PFIPC, and the Presidency.
On June 11, Gbajabiamila distanced himself from Adeyemi, saying the PFIPC was not a recognised government agency. He disclosed that his office had petitioned security agencies in October 2025 after forged appointment letters allegedly surfaced, leading to Adeyemi’s prosecution before the Federal High Court on charges including forgery, impersonation and obtaining by false pretence.
Adeyemi has denied the allegations, insisting he was validly appointed and challenging the Presidency’s account of events. He has also called on President Tinubu to constitute an independent panel to investigate the matter, claiming efforts were being made to silence him.
Questioning the official narrative, Falana said the controversy extends beyond the actions of an individual and raises broader institutional concerns.
“How did an agency that is not created by law find its way into the Appropriation Act? How did it get office accommodation in the Federal Secretariat? How did it open accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria? How were about 300 staff posted to it?” he asked.
He also questioned reports that about ₦24 billion was appropriated for the agency, arguing that such developments could not be dismissed as the handiwork of a lone impostor.
“If this is a conman who deceived the Presidency into issuing an appointment letter, deceived the Central Bank into opening accounts and deceived the National Assembly into inserting the agency into the budget, then the government has serious questions to answer,” Falana said.
The senior advocate further argued that the National Assembly should clarify how an agency allegedly unknown to law appeared in the national budget, noting that under Section 81 of the Constitution, appropriation proposals originate from the Executive.
He maintained that asking Gbajabiamila to temporarily step aside would protect the integrity of the investigation and ensure that the facts surrounding the PFIPC controversy are established without any perception of interference.
The Presidency had not publicly responded to Falana’s latest call as of the time of filing this report.