ADEYEMI-GBAJABIAMILA CONTROVERSY: LET’S HAVE FULL TRANSPARENCY, PLEASE

An escalating controversy over a purported "fake" federal government agency is casting a shadow over Nigeria's current administration and its international standing. The situation is seen as significantly damaging to public and global perceptions of Nigerian institutions' integrity.

This issue emerges at a critical time for President Bola Tinubu's administration, which is undertaking economic reforms and international initiatives requiring investor confidence. The alleged existence and operation of a non-existent federal government parastatal raise serious questions about transparency and the credibility of governmental systems.

The controversy intensified with allegations by Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew against the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, claiming Gbajabiamila's involvement in his "appointment" and demanding funds. Presidential spokesman Mr. Bayo Onanuga has refuted these claims, labeling Adeyemi an impostor facing criminal charges for forgery and impersonation. The presidency maintains that neither the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council nor the Presidential Economic Advisory Council exist.

However, the presidency's defense has prompted further concerns. If a private individual could allegedly fabricate an agency, assume authority, and gain acceptance from key government institutions, it suggests a profound systemic failure. Records indicate Adeyemi accessed prominent institutions like the Central Bank of Nigeria, the National Assembly, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Troubling discrepancies remain, particularly how a non-existent agency secured an allocation exceeding N1.3 billion in the 2026 Appropriation Act, obtained office space within the Federal Secretariat, and had public servants deployed to it.