Atiku Urges Tinubu To Suspend Gbajabiamila Pending Corruption Probe
The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to suspend his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, pending an independent investigation into fresh corruption allegations.
In a statement issued on Tuesday through his media aide, Paul Ibe, Atiku described the allegations against Gbajabiamila as serious and deserving of a transparent and impartial investigation.
He alleged that the President's Chief of Staff unlawfully secured tens of billions of naira in oil and gas royalties from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) by relying on what he described as a fake law to obtain presidential approval.
According to Atiku, the matter transcends partisan politics and raises questions about the credibility of the country's anti-corruption campaign. He maintained that all public office holders, irrespective of their positions, should be subjected to the same standards of accountability.
The former vice president also accused the Federal Government of applying double standards by pursuing corruption cases against opposition figures while allegedly ignoring similar allegations involving senior officials within the administration.
Drawing a comparison with the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, Atiku recalled that Buhari suspended then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, to allow investigators to carry out their work without interference. He argued that Gbajabiamila should be treated similarly.
Atiku stressed that suspending the Chief of Staff would not amount to a declaration of guilt but would instead demonstrate the Tinubu administration's commitment to transparency, accountability and the rule of law.
He urged President Tinubu to order a thorough and independent investigation into the allegations, insisting that Nigerians deserve full clarity on the matter.
The allegations remain unproven. At the time of the report, there had been no court finding or official determination that Gbajabiamila committed any wrongdoing, and the Presidency's response to these specific allegations was not included.
In a statement issued on Tuesday through his media aide, Paul Ibe, Atiku described the allegations against Gbajabiamila as serious and deserving of a transparent and impartial investigation.
He alleged that the President's Chief of Staff unlawfully secured tens of billions of naira in oil and gas royalties from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) by relying on what he described as a fake law to obtain presidential approval.
According to Atiku, the matter transcends partisan politics and raises questions about the credibility of the country's anti-corruption campaign. He maintained that all public office holders, irrespective of their positions, should be subjected to the same standards of accountability.
The former vice president also accused the Federal Government of applying double standards by pursuing corruption cases against opposition figures while allegedly ignoring similar allegations involving senior officials within the administration.
Drawing a comparison with the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, Atiku recalled that Buhari suspended then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, to allow investigators to carry out their work without interference. He argued that Gbajabiamila should be treated similarly.
Atiku stressed that suspending the Chief of Staff would not amount to a declaration of guilt but would instead demonstrate the Tinubu administration's commitment to transparency, accountability and the rule of law.
He urged President Tinubu to order a thorough and independent investigation into the allegations, insisting that Nigerians deserve full clarity on the matter.
The allegations remain unproven. At the time of the report, there had been no court finding or official determination that Gbajabiamila committed any wrongdoing, and the Presidency's response to these specific allegations was not included.
