A group, Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), has called for the immediate suspension of the Chief of Staff (CoS) to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, over his alleged links to the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
The group also dismissed the ongoing House of Representatives investigation into the matter, describing it as a distraction unlikely to yield any meaningful outcome.
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Addressing a press conference on the state of the nation in Abuja on Tuesday, the Executive Director of CHRICED, Ibrahim Zikirullahi, said no credible investigation can be conducted while Mr Gbajabiamila remains in office.
An ad hoc committee of the House of Representatives is currently probing the circumstances surrounding the establishment and operations of the PFIPC following allegations that the council fraudulently obtained official government recognition through forged documents and subsequently secured government patronage and public funds.
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The controversy surrounding the PFIPC followed allegations by the self-acclaimed Director-General of the council, Adeniyi Adeyemi, who reportedly linked Mr Gbajabiamila to the organisation’s activities and alleged that funds were paid to the chief of staff.
However, Mr Gbajabiamila, a former speaker of the House, has repeatedly denied the allegations, describing them as false and an attempt to tarnish his reputation. He has also instituted a N15 billion defamation suit against Mr Adeyemi over the claims, seeking legal redress over what he described as defamatory statements.
He is seeking N10 billion in general damages and N5 billion in aggravated damages over what he described as a sustained campaign of false and malicious allegations that gravely damaged his personal reputation and the integrity of the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President.
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This came nine days after Mr Gbajabiamila’s cease-and-desist letter dated 6 July asking Mr Adeyemi to retract the claims, remove transcripts, videos, recordings and all related publications from every platform under his control, and tender an apology.
Mr Zikirullahi questioned the credibility of the House probe, arguing that previous legislative investigations involving politically exposed persons had failed to produce accountability.
“I call it a so-called investigation because nothing will come out of it at the end of the day,” he said.
According to him, the investigation is intended merely to create the impression that the government is taking action while shielding influential public officials from scrutiny.
He argued that the legislature had, on several occasions, failed to demonstrate consistency in handling allegations involving senior political office holders.
Mr Zikirullahi said that, for the integrity of the probe, the presidency should immediately suspend the CoS to guarantee an independent investigation.
“If he does not have the integrity to resign on his own, the President, if he himself has integrity, ought to suspend Gbajabiamila. Suspension does not mean removal. After all is said and done, if he is not found wanting, he can come back and take up his job,” he said.
The executive director argued that temporary suspension is an internationally recognised administrative measure intended to protect the integrity of investigations rather than punish an accused person.
According to him, leaders in other democracies have voluntarily resigned or stepped aside when faced with serious allegations, allowing independent investigations to proceed without interference.
“We have even seen prime ministers resign in other countries over mere accusations. They step aside and say, ‘Investigate me.’ What is so special about Gbajabiamila?” he asked.
Mr Zikirullahi insisted that no public official should be treated as being above the law simply because of the office he occupies.
He further argued that, since the alleged director-general of the PFIPC had reportedly been arrested in connection with the controversy, there was no justification for exempting other individuals mentioned in the allegations from similar scrutiny.
“If the DG has been arrested, what stops them from also arresting Gbajabiamila?” he asked.
He said that unless those occupying influential public offices are allowed to face independent investigations without political protection, Nigerians will continue to lose confidence in public institutions.
Mr Zikirullahi therefore urged anti-corruption agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to conduct thorough and transparent investigations into all allegations concerning the PFIPC.
Budget concerns
The CHRICED boss described the 2026 budget as another example of fiscal recklessness.
Citing an analysis by BudgIT’s Tracka platform, Mr Zikirullahi said ₦8.05 billion was allocated for church and mosque projects through ministries and agencies whose mandates have no connection with religious infrastructure.
The allocation comprises ₦6.14 billion for 52 mosque-related projects and ₦1.91 billion for seven church projects.
He also questioned the allocation of ₦780 million by the Office of the Deputy Speaker for church musical instruments.
“Why should scarce public funds be used to buy musical instruments when millions of Nigerians cannot afford food, have no jobs and lack access to healthcare and education?” he asked.
Mr Zikirullahi also criticised the allocation of ₦500 million for an international communications campaign on religious persecution, a US$9 million contract for foreign lobbying and ₦6.44 billion budgeted for FIFA World Cup qualifying activities despite Nigeria’s failure to qualify.
“Nigerians deserve answers, not excuses,” he said.
Almajiri Commission
Mr Zikirullahi also alleged that funds meant for the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education were diverted to projects unrelated to education.
He said that although the commission received ₦22.8 billion in the budget, billions were allocated to road projects, solar streetlights and empowerment programmes in Ogun and Katsina states.
“These are not education projects. They are diversions,” he said, describing the allocations as a betrayal of vulnerable children.
Rising debts
The CHRICED director also questioned Nigeria’s rising public debt, which it noted has reached ₦159.28 trillion, despite government claims of increased revenue following subsidy removal and tax reforms.
He wondered why ministries, departments, and agencies continue to complain about poor budget releases even though revenues have improved.
He also faulted the repeated extension of annual budgets into subsequent fiscal years, saying the practice weakens accountability and legislative oversight.
State police
On constitutional reform, Mr Zikirullahi said CHRICED supports genuine restructuring but criticised the process leading to the passage of the executive-backed State Police Bill.
He argued that state police cannot succeed without addressing poor police welfare, state dependence on federal allocations, proliferation of arms and political violence.
He also cited the recent walkout by opposition lawmakers during the bill’s consideration in the House of Representatives as evidence that the process lacks broad consensus.
Opposition, Umahi and Oriire
Mr Zikirullahi also expressed concern over what he described as increasing intimidation of opposition political parties through arbitrary arrests, disruption of meetings and misuse of security agencies.
“A democracy without a vibrant opposition is not a democracy; it is an authoritarian project wearing democratic clothing,” he noted.
READ ALSO: PFIPC Probe: How forged State House letter paved way for fake agency – Accountant-General
He also called for an independent investigation into the death of nurse Mary Habila at the country home of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, urging the minister to step aside pending the outcome of investigations.
He further urged authorities to clarify conflicting accounts surrounding the Oriire school abduction, including allegations that the children were released by their abductors rather than rescued by security agencies.
Call to government
Mr Zikirullahi called on President Tinubu to strengthen fiscal discipline, improve accountability and address questionable budget allocations.
He also urged the National Assembly to restore integrity to the budget process, while calling on the Budget Office, the Office of the Auditor-General, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate alleged budget irregularities.
Mr Zikirullahi said Nigeria’s democracy can only thrive when transparency, accountability and respect for constitutional norms guide public governance.
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