The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has called on President Bola Tinubu to suspend his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, over an alleged N400 million bribery scandal.

 In a statement issued on Tuesday, Atiku said the suspension would pave the way for an independent investigation into the bribery allegation and a related controversy surrounding the 2026 national budget.

The allegation was made by Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, Director General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.

The development comes after Gbajabiamila had dismissed claims about the council, insisting that the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council does not exist.

However, Atiku argued that the Federal Government had allocated N27.4 billion to the same agency in the 2026 national budget, describing the situation as a major contradiction that raises questions about the credibility of both the Chief of Staff and the budget.

According to the former Vice President, allocating billions of naira to an agency that was publicly described as non-existent creates serious concerns about transparency and accountability in government.

He warned the Presidency against dismissing the allegations with what he described as weak and unconvincing explanations, insisting that the matter deserves a thorough and independent investigation.

Atiku also urged President Tinubu to demonstrate commitment to the rule of law by holding his close aides to the same standard of accountability expected of other public officials.

“How can you allocate N27.4 billion in the budget to a government agency that doesn’t exist without leaving more questions than answers? Good governance is based on transparency and accountability, and you can’t achieve that by protecting your family and friends.

“President Tinubu must lead by example by holding his Chief of Staff to the same standards of accountability as other public officials. He must suspend him. N27 billion is not a joke,” Atiku said.

The Presidency is yet to officially respond to Atiku’s latest call for the suspension of the Chief of Staff.