₦400 Million Bribery Allegation: Sowore Attacks Tinubu, Gbajabiamila

Human rights activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has accused President Bola Tinubu and his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, of having a history of alleged corruption, as controversy continues to trail the disputed Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.

According to Sahara Reporters, Sowore, in a statement posted on his social media platform, questioned the integrity of the Tinubu administration and dismissed suggestions that Gbajabiamila could have acted independently in an alleged ₦400 million bribery scandal linked to the controversial government agency.

The activist’s comments followed allegations by Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew, who claimed to have headed the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), an organisation the Presidency has described as fictitious.

Adeyemi had accused Gbajabiamila of collecting ₦400m through a proxy in connection with his purported appointment and the establishment of the council.

The Presidency has denied the allegations and accused Adeyemi of forgery and impersonation.

Reacting to the controversy, Sowore accused Nigerians of pretending to be surprised by the allegations against the President’s Chief of Staff.

“Nigerians love to pretend they do not know that Tinubu is a crook who appointed another well-mentored crook, Femi Gbajabiamila, as his Chief of Staff!” Sowore alleged.

He argued that it was unreasonable to believe that Gbajabiamila could have acted without the knowledge of the President.

“I don’t understand why Nigerians even remotely think Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, was acting alone in taking a ₦400m bribe to create a fake government agency. Come on!” he said.

Sowore also referred to Gbajabiamila’s past legal troubles in the United States, alleging that the former Speaker of the House of Representatives had previously been involved in misconduct while practising law in Atlanta.

“Do you guys not know Femi Gbajabiamila’s history in Atlanta, where he was stealing his client’s money as a lawyer?” he asked.

The AAC presidential candidate also revisited longstanding controversies surrounding Tinubu’s past in the United States, referring to allegations connected with drug trafficking and an asset forfeiture case.

“And Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu himself lived in Chicago, where his past was tied to drug-trafficking and a major forfeiture case,” Sowore alleged.

He dismissed suggestions that the President could have been unaware of any alleged wrongdoing involving his Chief of Staff.

“So, please, spare me the nonsense that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu suddenly discovered he had a thief beside him! Do you seriously think Tinubu doesn’t know Gbaja? Birds of the same feather don’t need introductions,” he said.

Sowore further questioned the credibility of the entire administration.

“The real question is not whether Tinubu knows what Gbaja is capable of. The question is whether the entire government is not a racket,” he added.

The controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council intensified after the Presidency publicly denied the existence of the agency and disowned Adeyemi.

The Nigeria Police Force subsequently arraigned Adeyemi before the Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations that he forged presidential appointment letters and other State House documents to operate the purported council.

The Federal Government filed an eight-count charge against Adeyemi and two other suspects identified only as Femi and Anu, who are said to be at large.

According to the police, the investigation followed a petition from the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President after reports emerged that appointment letters purportedly issued from the office were being circulated.