Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has called on President Bola Tinubu to suspend his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, pending the conclusion of investigations into corruption allegations against him, arguing that such a step is necessary to guarantee the credibility and independence of the probe.
Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate for the 2027 election, made the call in a statement issued on Tuesday by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, contending that allowing the President’s Chief of Staff to remain in office while investigations are ongoing could undermine public confidence in the process.
The former vice-president urged Tinubu to follow the example set by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2017, when he suspended the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, after corruption allegations were levelled against him.
Lawal was subsequently investigated by a presidential panel before leaving office, a development Atiku said demonstrated the importance of insulating investigations from any perception of executive interference.
According to Atiku, the Presidency’s silence over the allegations against Gbajabiamila had done little to reassure Nigerians of the administration’s commitment to accountability.
“Silence and indifference cannot make the unfolding corruption allegations against the Chief of Staff disappear,” the statement said.
He argued that public confidence in any investigation depends not only on its outcome but also on the integrity of the process.
“The President must place national interest above personal loyalty. Suspending the Chief of Staff while investigations are carried out will reassure Nigerians that no one is above scrutiny,” Atiku stated.
He maintained that justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done, insisting that every public official, regardless of office or relationship with the President, should be subject to the same standards of accountability.
The former vice-president further warned that failure to take decisive action could reinforce perceptions that the Federal Government’s anti-corruption campaign is being selectively applied.
“Accountability loses its moral authority when senior government officials are seen as insulated from the standards imposed on others,” he said, adding that allegations involving top public office holders must be investigated in a “transparent, impartial and credible manner.”
The call comes amid growing public attention over the allegations against Gbajabiamila, although the Presidency has consistently defended the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, describing him as the target of politically motivated attacks rather than established wrongdoing.
President Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the allegations, a move the Presidency says underscores its commitment to transparency and accountability.
However, Atiku’s latest intervention reflects concerns expressed by some opposition figures and civil society groups that an investigation conducted by an agency under the executive arm may not sufficiently dispel public doubts, given the position occupied by the President’s Chief of Staff.
The Presidency has yet to indicate any intention to suspend Gbajabiamila while the ICPC investigation is ongoing.
The development is expected to further fuel political debate over the administration’s anti-corruption credentials, with the outcome of the investigation likely to be closely scrutinised by both supporters and critics of the government.
Atiku, who has emerged as one of the leading opposition figures ahead of the 2027 general election, has repeatedly called for stronger accountability measures in public office, while the Tinubu administration maintains that it remains committed to ensuring that all allegations of corruption are investigated in accordance with the law.