The arrest of the self-styled Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi, yesterday added a new twist to the controversy surrounding the purported agency, triggering fresh calls to investigate the Senate’s oversight role and allegations involving President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.

While the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, urged President Bola Tinubu to suspend Gbajabiamila pending an investigation into corruption allegations against him, human rights activist Omoyele Sowore demanded a wider probe, as former senator Femi Okunrounmu faulted the Senate for allegedly failing to exercise effective oversight over the purported agency.

Meanwhile, Adeyemi was arrested yesterday at his hideout in Osun State, shortly after Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, ordered his arrest for failing to appear in court for his arraignment.

Details of the arrest remained sketchy as of press time, but sources said the suspect would be taken to the Police Headquarters in Abuja for further action.

Earlier in the proceedings, Adeyemi’s counsel, Genesis Francis, told the court that he had been unable to persuade his client to attend the hearing, citing concerns raised by the defendant.

The lawyer told the court that Adeyemi had expressed fears for his safety in an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, adding that the matter had attracted significant public attention.

However, prosecuting counsel, Wisdom Madaki, argued that the case had been repeatedly delayed because of the defendant’s absence.

Madaki urged the court to issue a warrant for Adeyemi’s arrest pursuant to Section 394 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.

Granting the application, Justice Umar noted that the charges were filed on November 27, 2025, while proceedings commenced on December 4, 2025.

The judge observed that Adeyemi had appeared before the court only once and had failed to attend subsequent proceedings.

He consequently ordered his arrest and adjourned the matter until September 30.

Reacting, Atiku Abubakar urged President Bola Tinubu to suspend Gbajabiamila to allow for what he described as an unfettered investigation into corruption allegations against the presidential aide.

In a statement issued yesterday by his media aide, Paul Ibe, Atiku said “silence and indifference” could not erase what he described as the unfolding allegations against Gbajabiamila.

Sowore alleges cover-up in Adeyemi’s arrest, seeks probe of Gbajabiamila

For his part, human rights activist Omoyele Sowore alleged that the arrest of Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi over the alleged operation of a fake government agency is part of an attempt to cover up the truth behind a reported N400 million bribery scandal.

In a post on X yesterday, Sowore claimed that Adeyemi’s arrest and reported treatment suggested “what appears to be an official cover-up rather than a genuine search for truth.”

He argued that President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, should also be investigated if the authorities were genuinely committed to establishing the facts.

The former vice-president cited the suspension of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, by ex-President Muhammadu Buhari to facilitate an investigation into allegations against him, arguing that Gbajabiamila should not be treated differently.

Atiku said he was disturbed by allegations that Gbajabiamila “illegally cornered tens of billions of naira in oil and gas royalties from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, citing a fake law for presidential approval.”

He argued that the Tinubu administration could not claim to be fighting corruption while ignoring allegations involving its own officials.

According to him, “You can’t preach the rule of law when your own officials are awarded with the trophy of untouchability.

“Gbajabiamila must be held accountable like every other public official and independently investigated to give him full opportunity to defend himself against the brazen act of corruption as detailed in the Gazette report.”

Senate failed in its oversight duty, former senator alleges

Also, a former senator, Femi Okunrounmu, commended the arrest of Adeyemi, insisting, however, that the upper legislative chamber bears significant responsibility for the controversy for allegedly failing to exercise its constitutional oversight.

According to him, oversight is one of the legislature’s core functions and goes far beyond the appropriation of public funds. He argued that once lawmakers approve expenditure, they have a duty to monitor how those funds are utilised and ensure they are spent strictly for the purposes for which they were approved.

The former lawmaker pointed to Sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution, which empower the National Assembly to conduct investigations into matters relating to laws it has enacted and funds it has appropriated. He noted that these provisions were designed to enable lawmakers to scrutinise the administration of public funds and expose corruption, inefficiency, and waste in government agencies.

He stressed that the Senate has broad constitutional powers to summon individuals and demand explanations on issues of public interest. According to him, these powers extend to virtually anyone whose testimony may assist an investigation, including top government officials.

The former senator also highlighted the role of constitutionally recognised committees, particularly the Public Accounts Committee, which is tasked with examining public expenditure and ensuring accountability in government operations. He argued that if oversight mechanisms had been effectively deployed, many of the questions now being raised about PFIPC could have been addressed much earlier.

Beyond oversight, he emphasised the importance of due diligence, especially when government agencies are established or funded with public resources. Lawmakers, he said, must verify the existence, activities, and financial operations of agencies benefiting from appropriated funds.

On the controversy surrounding Adeyemi, the former senator cautioned against drawing conclusions from his failure to appear in court. He noted that Adeyemi had publicly claimed that he feared for his life and had continued granting media interviews while reportedly in hiding.

Commenting on calls for the removal of key government officials linked to the controversy, he said opinions remain divided. While some believe President Bola Tinubu’s public expression of confidence in his Chief of Staff could be interpreted as prejudging the matter, others view it as a routine vote of confidence pending the outcome of investigations.

He maintained that the most important priority is ensuring a transparent and credible investigation.

“Whatever position people take, the process must be allowed to run its course,” he said. “The authorities must ensure that the matter is thoroughly investigated and resolved in a way that inspires public confidence. Only then can doubts about the integrity of the process be laid to rest,” he added.

“By now, President Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, should also be under arrest and investigation if the authorities are truly committed to uncovering the facts,” Sowore wrote.

He further alleged that the individual accused of collecting the purported N400 million bribe on behalf of Gbajabiamila had died under mysterious circumstances, while the hotel where the alleged transaction reportedly took place had been demolished.

Sowore also accused the Federal Government of attempting to obstruct justice. (The Guardian)

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