By Peace Udugba
Paul Ibe, spokesperson for the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s decision to appoint his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, as Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill.
In a post shared on X on Wednesday, Ibe described the appointment as contradictory to the President’s directive for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the alleged fake Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).
According to Ibe, the decision to entrust Gbajabiamila with the new responsibility while the controversy surrounding the PFIPC remains unresolved suggests that the investigation is merely a “smokescreen.”
He argued 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 key figure in the PFIPC controversy.
Ibe further criticised President Tinubu for allowing Gbajabiamila to inaugurate the committee on his behalf, describing the action as “morally reprehensible.”
The comments followed Tuesday’s inauguration of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, which is tasked with preparing the legal framework for the implementation of state police in Nigeria. Representing the President at the event, Gbajabiamila said the proposed legislation would provide the legal and institutional foundation for the new policing system.
The PFIPC controversy began after the Presidency declared that the council was not an official government body and directed the ICPC to investigate allegations of forgery, impersonation and related financial transactions linked to it.
Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew has maintained that his appointment to the council was legitimate and has accused Gbajabiamila of demanding bribes—an allegation the Chief of Staff has denied. Gbajabiamila has also threatened legal action against Adeyemi, including a ₦10 billion defamation suit.
