Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has defended the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, amid controversy surrounding allegations involving the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).The controversy began after Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who claimed to head the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, alleged wrongdoing linked to the Presidency. Gbajabiamila dismissed the body as non-existent, while Adeyemi insisted it was captured in the national budget.
President Bola Tinubu subsequently directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the matter within 30 days.Speaking during a media chat in Abuja on Thursday, Wike described the allegations against Gbajabiamila as politically motivated, arguing that a Chief of Staff is often targeted by those seeking to discredit a government. Drawing from his own experience as a former Chief of Staff, he said such offices are frequently at the centre of political attacks.
The FCT minister also questioned claims that Gbajabiamila accepted millions of naira in bribes over alleged budget insertions, stressing that preparing budget documents is not the responsibility of the Chief of Staff. He further questioned why the accuser reportedly left the country, insisting anyone making such serious allegations should present evidence before security agencies.
Wike also rejected calls by former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and other opposition figures for an independent probe panel that would include opposition representatives. He described the demand as politically motivated, saying governments do not constitute investigation panels based on party representation.
He urged the opposition to focus on resolving its internal challenges rather than attempting to dictate how the federal government should conduct investigations, adding that political parties should first address their own internal disputes before calling for inquiries into government affairs. Wike also recounted a recent blackmail attempt against him, revealing that a suspect alleged his son collected $2 million in exchange for FCT land allocations.
According to the minister, his son had already travelled abroad before the alleged incident, making the claim false. He said the suspect was arrested and vowed not to tolerate attempts to blackmail public officials. The minister reaffirmed his support for the ICPC investigation ordered by President Tinubu, expressing confidence that the probe would expose the truth behind the allegations.
Source: https://thenationonlineng.net/
