Suspend Gbaja to allow probe as Buhari did Babachir Lawal – Atiku tells Tinubu

Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has asked President Bola Tinubu to suspend Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff, to allow for “unfettered” investigation of allegations against him.

In a statement issued by Paul Ibe, media aide, on Tuesday, Atiku said “silence and indifference” cannot take away the “unfolding” corruption allegations against Gbajabiamila.

The former vice-president cited how former President Muhammadu Buhari suspended Babachir Lawal, secretary to the government of the federation, to allow for investigation, adding that Gbajabiamila should not be treated differently.

Atiku expressed shock over the recent allegations of “illegally cornering tens of billions of naira in oil and gas royalties from petroleum regulatory commission, citing a fake law for presidential approval” levelled against Gbajabiamila.

The former vice-president said Tinubu’s administration “can’t pretend to be prosecuting opposition figures for corruption, while corruption is growing like weed under its own nose”.

“You can’t preach the rule of law when your own officials are awarded with the trophy of untouchability,” Atiku said.

“Gbajabiamila must be held accountable like every other public official and independently investigated to give him full opportunity to defend himself against the brazen act of corruption as detailed in the Gazette report.

“Former President Buhari suspended his SGF Babachir Lawal from office in order to allow for unfettered investigation against him and Gbajabiamila shouldn’t be treated differently.”

Gbajabiamila has been under fire following allegations by Adeniyi Adeyemi, director-general of the presidential foreign intervention promotion council (PFIPC), that the chief of staff obtained N400 million bribe to provide him an appointment letter.

Despite the absence of any legal framework or presidential declaration establishing it, PFIPC operated like a government agency, receiving an allocation in the 2026 budget, occupying an office at the federal secretariat and also recruiting staff.

BABACHIR LAWAL’S SACK

In April 2017, late Buhari suspended Lawal as SGF following allegations of violations of law and due process in the award of contracts under the Presidential Initiative on the North-East (PINE).

The suspension was pending the outcome of the findings of the three-member panel instituted to probe the allegations.

After some months, Lawal was sacked and Boss Mustapha was announced as the replacement.

In June, Lawal and Atiku clashed after the former SGF resigned from the ADC over allegations that the party’s primaries were manipulated in favour of the Atiku and his associates.

The former SGF claimed the exercise was rigged at multiple levels to benefit the former vice-president. (TheCable)