PDP Demands Probe Of ‘Gbajagate’, Alleges Institutional Failure

The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under the leadership of Mr Kabiru Turaki, SAN, has called for an independent forensic investigation into the alleged funding of a “fake” federal agency.

Specifically, the faction called for an investigation of the
allegations of involvement of the Chief of Staff to President, Femi Gbajabiamila, in the saga.

A statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the faction, Ini Ememobong, said the controversy exposes what it described as incompetence, negligence and weak institutional safeguards within the Federal Government.

The opposition party said the allegations made by Prince Matthew Adeyemi and the Presidency’s response had raised serious concerns about governance and accountability under President Bola Tinubu.

The party alleged that the administration was being run “with alarming recklessness, where nepotism and cronyism have displaced merit, and impunity has become standard practice.”

According to the PDP faction, Prince Matthew Adeyemi had alleged that Gbajabiamila solicited and received financial inducement of N600 million to facilitate his appointment into the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, and later made additional financial demands.

The party noted that the presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, in responding to the allegations, described Prince Adeyemi as an impostor who fraudulently gained access to government institutions, rather than directly addressing the bribery claims.

The PDP argued that the Presidency’s explanation raised even more troubling questions about security and administrative controls within the government.

“If the Presidency’s account is correct, that Prince Adeyemi is an impostor, then it means the Federal Government is so porous and vulnerable—an admission that the country has been brazenly defrauded because institutional gatekeepers entrusted with protecting our collective patrimony are either grossly incompetent or thoroughly distracted from the responsibilities of governance,” the statement said.

It added that if Prince Adeyemi’s allegations against the Chief of Staff were true, “then this is yet another act of shameless corruption added to a long and growing queue of unchallenged corrupt officials in this administration.”

The opposition party also cited what it described as previous administrative lapses, including the appointment of deceased persons into government positions, alleged irregularities in the presidential pardon list and the alleged N800 billion Progressive Governors Forum scandal, saying they reflected “a troubling pattern of institutional failure.”

The PDP questioned how an alleged impostor could have secured office accommodation, staff, budgetary allocations, Central Bank-registered accounts and official dealings with agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and security institutions without detection.

The party called on President Tinubu to order “a forensic investigation of this scandal by a reputable firm of international standing,” suspend all officials connected with the matter pending the outcome of investigations, reorganise the Presidency and issue “an unreserved apology to Nigerians.”

“The Presidency owes Nigerians more than explanations; it owes us accountability,” the statement said.

The PDP maintained that until the administration demonstrates a willingness to hold public officials accountable, public confidence in government would continue to decline.