Loading ...ABUJA, NIGERIA — Former Vice President and 2027 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately order a full independent probe into the staggering ₦400 million bribery and ₦27.4 billion budget padding scandal currently rocking the presidency.
In a hard-hitting press statement issued by the Atiku Media Office today, Tuesday, June 30, 2026, the Waziri Adamawa demanded the immediate suspension of the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, to allow an unhindered investigation into the explosive corruption allegations.
The Credibility Gap: A Phantom Agency In The Budget
Atiku’s intervention follows the controversial defense mounted by Gbajabiamila, who flatly denied receiving ₦400 million in proxy cash from Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC). The Chief of Staff had dismissed the bribery claims by arguing that the PFIPC does not even exist within the structure of the federal government.
However, Atiku maintained that Gbajabiamila’s “phantom agency” defense has only deepened the administration’s credibility crisis, raising serious questions about the authenticity of the nation’s fiscal planning.
“How can you allocate ₦27.4 billion in the budget to a government agency that doesn’t exist without leaving more questions than answers?” Atiku queried. “Allocating ₦27.4 billion to an agency that doesn’t exist puts question marks on the credibility of the entire 2026 national budget.”
“Indifference Is Not An Option” — Atiku Tells Tinubu
The ADC presidential flagbearer warned that a colossal budgetary fraud of this magnitude cannot be swept under the carpet through weak, unconvincing corporate disclaimers from the office of the Chief of Staff.
Atiku challenged President Tinubu to break his silence, lead by example, and hold his inner-circle political appointees to the same rigorous standards of public accountability expected in any functional democracy.
“Good governance is based on transparency and accountability and you can’t achieve that by protecting your family and friends,” Atiku stated. “President Tinubu must lead by example by holding his Chief of Staff to the same standards of accountability as other public officials. ₦27 billion is not a joke. The rule of law must prevail in this issue. Let President Tinubu prove to Nigerians that he is sincerely committed to accountability in his administration.”
The Multi-Billion Naira Accountability Crisis
The brewing Aso Rock scandal comes at a time of extreme economic hardship for ordinary Nigerians, making the multi-billion naira kickback allegations a volatile political flashpoint.
By demanding an independent investigative panel rather than an internal presidency review, Atiku and the opposition ADC are aiming to ensure that the facts regarding the PFIPC’s recruitment drives, operational bank accounts, and its budgetary inclusion on pages 50 and 51 of the Appropriation Act are laid bare before the Nigerian public.
As of the time of filing this report, the presidency has yet to respond to Atiku’s formal demand for the Chief of Staff’s suspension.
With the 2027 political battle lines being drawn over institutional corruption, 247ureports will continue to bring you breaking updates from the federal capital.
