The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has intensified calls for the suspension of the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, over allegations arising from the controversy surrounding the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
The opposition party also urged President Bola Tinubu to establish an independent investigative panel to unravel the circumstances surrounding the alleged agency and the claims made by its self-acclaimed Director-General, Prince Mathew Adeniyi Adeyemi.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, the NDC described the allegations as weighty and said they warranted a transparent investigation rather than what it termed official denials by the Presidency.
The party argued that several questions raised by the controversy remained unanswered, particularly claims that the alleged agency received allocations in the 2026 Appropriation Act and operated multiple accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
According to the NDC, it was difficult to understand how an agency the Presidency insists does not exist could allegedly obtain a domiciliary account, a pound sterling account and a Treasury Single Account (TSA) within the nation's apex bank.
The party also questioned reports that the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation processed documents relating to the agency, asking whether due diligence was observed before such approvals were granted.
It further expressed concern over claims that the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation approved 314 staff positions for the purported agency despite the Presidency's insistence that no such institution exists.
The NDC also referred to allegations by Adeyemi that Gbajabiamila demanded 48 per cent of the agency's alleged N27.4 billion take-off grant and that he paid N400 million through intermediaries out of an agreed N600 million to secure his appointment.
According to the party, the allegations, if established, would point to serious abuse of public office and undermine public confidence in government institutions.
It therefore called for Gbajabiamila's immediate suspension to allow for what it described as an impartial and credible investigation.
The party also demanded that anti-graft agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), as well as the Nigeria Police Force, investigate the financial and administrative issues surrounding the alleged agency.
In addition, the NDC urged authorities to investigate the death of Babatunde Tanimola, identified by Adeyemi as an intermediary in the matter, as well as allegations that attempts had been made on Adeyemi's life.
The party maintained that Nigerians deserved a full account of the events and urged the Federal Government to ensure adequate protection for witnesses connected with the case.
Meanwhile, the Presidency has dismissed Adeyemi's claims, insisting that the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council is not a recognised government agency.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, had stated that investigations revealed Adeyemi allegedly forged a presidential appointment letter purportedly signed by Gbajabiamila and operated a fictitious agency.
According to the Presidency, Gbajabiamila reported the matter to security agencies in October 2025, leading to criminal charges against Adeyemi and two other suspects over alleged forgery, impersonation and related offences.
The government has also maintained that both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission had earlier raised concerns over the activities of the purported agency, reiterating that it has no legal status under the Tinubu administration.
Adeyemi, however, continues to insist that his appointment and the agency are legitimate.
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