Laolu Akande, a former presidential spokesperson, has called on Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to the President, to vacate his office pending the resolution of the controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC). Akande made this appeal during an appearance on Channels Television's Sunrise Daily program on Thursday, July 16, 2026.
Background of the PFIPC Scandal
The controversy erupted after the arrest of Adeniyi Adeyemi, who had been parading himself as the Director-General of the PFIPC, an agency that was not officially approved. Adeyemi's detention has raised questions about how the unapproved body was included in the national budget and who in the government may have been aware of or complicit in the scheme.
Akande emphasized that Gbajabiamila's continued presence in office undermines the integrity of the administration. He stated, “Gbajabiamila holds it to himself, his family, the President and Nigerians, to step aside. It is just the common human decent thing to do.”
Public Trust at Stake
The former aide warned that the failure of high-ranking officials to step aside during investigations erodes public confidence. He questioned, “How do you think that people will consider that the investigation that the President has ordered is going to be fair if they are still there?”
Adeyemi, the arrested suspect, has publicly denied any involvement in the inclusion of the PFIPC in the budget. Akande noted, “Adeyemi has told Nigerians that he knew nothing about the itemizing of the ‘fake’ agency in the budget. I’m not saying what he said is true or not true.”
Impact on Government Credibility
Akande argued that allowing officials to remain in power while facing serious allegations creates a perception of impropriety. “You cannot have somebody making those huge significant claims about those that are in government and then the people are still sitting there. How do you ever think it will create an impression of trust?” he asked.
The call for Gbajabiamila to step aside adds to growing pressure on the presidency to address the scandal transparently. The President has ordered an investigation into the matter, but Akande insists that interim measures are necessary to ensure the process is seen as credible.
