According to a report by Premium Times on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has urged the Federal Government to suspend the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, over allegations linking him to the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
The call was made during a press conference on the state of the nation held in Abuja on Tuesday, where the group also criticised the House of Representatives’ ongoing investigation into the matter. CHRICED argued that the legislative inquiry was unlikely to produce meaningful accountability and described it as a distraction.
CHRICED’s Executive Director, Ibrahim Zikirullahi, said an independent and credible investigation could not be conducted while Gbajabiamila remained in office. He maintained that the Chief of Staff’s continued presence in such a powerful position could undermine public confidence in the process and raise concerns about its impartiality.
The controversy began after Adeniyi Adeyemi, who presented himself as the Director-General of the PFIPC, allegedly linked Gbajabiamila to the organisation’s activities. Adeyemi also claimed that money had been paid to the Chief of Staff, allegations that have attracted widespread public attention.
Gbajabiamila has consistently denied the accusations, describing them as false and part of a deliberate attempt to tarnish his reputation. He has also filed a ₦15 billion defamation suit against Adeyemi, seeking ₦10 billion in general damages and ₦5 billion in aggravated damages, arguing that the claims were malicious and had damaged both his reputation and the integrity of his office.
CHRICED questioned the effectiveness of the House investigation, citing previous probes involving politically exposed individuals that, in its view, failed to deliver meaningful accountability. The organisation argued that such investigations often create the appearance of action while influential figures avoid proper scrutiny.
Zikirullahi stressed that no public official should be shielded from investigation because of the office they hold. He noted that in other democratic countries, public officials have voluntarily stepped aside when faced with serious allegations to allow independent investigations to proceed without interference.
He also argued that the arrest of the alleged PFIPC Director-General should not prevent investigators from examining the roles of other individuals mentioned in the allegations.
According to Zikirullahi, “Suspension does not mean removal. After all is said and done, if he is not found wanting, he can come back and take up his job.”