Paul Ibe, spokesman for the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Atiku Abubakar, on Wednesday criticised President Bola Tinubu’s decision to appoint his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to chair the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill.
He described the move as inconsistent with the administration’s directive for an investigation into the alleged fake Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council.
In a post on X, Ibe argued that the President’s order to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to probe the PFIPC affair was merely “a smokescreen.”
“This is the confirmation that the so-called Tinubu-ordered ‘fake’ Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council probe by the ICPC investigation is a smokescreen,” Ibe wrote.
He further contended that appointing Gbajabiamila on the same day the probe was announced amounted to a vote of confidence in an official accused by Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, a central figure in the controversy.
“The President’s appointment of Femi Gbajabiamila as Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill… is a morally reprehensible vote of confidence in his Chief of Staff,” Ibe stated.
He added that allowing Gbajabiamila to inaugurate the committee on the President’s behalf appeared to be “urging Gbajabiamila to go and sin more.”
The remarks followed Tuesday’s inauguration of the committee charged with drafting legislation to operationalise state police in Nigeria.
President Tinubu, represented by Gbajabiamila, said the proposed law would establish the legal and institutional framework for the new policing structure.
The PFIPC dispute began after the Presidency declared that the council did not exist and directed the ICPC to investigate allegations of forgery, impersonation and related financial transactions linked to the body.
Adeyemi has insisted that his appointment was valid and has levelled bribery allegations against Gbajabiamila, who denies the claims and has threatened legal action, including a ₦10 billion defamation suit.
