Wike Dismisses Allegations Against Chief of Staff as Politically Motivated

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has publicly defended President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, against recent allegations linking him to a controversy involving a purported government agency, the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).

The controversy stemmed from claims made by Adeniyi Adeyemi, who identified himself as the Director General of the council an agency which the Presidency has stated does not exist. Adeyemi had allegedly implicated the Chief of Staff in the scheme, prompting calls from opposition figures and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for a high-level investigation.

During a media briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Wike characterized the accusations as “cheap blackmail” and “politically motivated.” He argued that high-ranking officials are frequently targeted by critics aiming to embarrass the administration.

“Does it make sense that an agency that does not exist, he will ask somebody to give it such an amount of money? It is madness,” Wike stated, asserting that the Chief of Staff lacks the constitutional authority to create or manage budget lines for such organizations.

The Minister further questioned the credibility of the accuser, noting that Adeyemi had reportedly fled following the emergence of the allegations. He challenged the individual to present concrete evidence, such as communications and financial records, to security agencies instead of avoiding interrogation.

Wike also pushed back against demands from the opposition for the Chief of Staff to be dismissed while the investigation is ongoing. He described such calls as procedural overreach, stating that the government cannot function effectively if senior officials are removed based on unverified claims.

The Minister confirmed that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is already investigating the matter, an action he described as appropriate. Drawing on his own experiences with fabricated stories during his time as a governor, Wike insisted that the public should wait for the outcome of the official inquiry rather than succumbing to partisan narratives.