PFIPC Probe: Lawyer demands Gbajabiamila, HoS, AGF step aside

A lawyer and public affairs commentator, Maxwell Opara, has called on the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, and the Accountant-General of the Federation to step aside over their alleged links to the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) case. Speaking on ARISE News on Tuesday, Opara argued that no public official should remain in office while under criminal investigation.
According to him, the alleged creation of the fake agency, the allocation of office space and the opening of bank accounts indicate that a criminal offence had already been established. He noted that while the alleged fake director had been arrested, other officials mentioned in the investigation should be treated equally, stressing that “nobody is above the law.”
Opara maintained that public officials occupying sensitive positions should voluntarily step aside to ensure an independent and transparent investigation. He argued that remaining in office while under investigation could create the perception that such officials might influence the outcome of the probe. He also questioned the decision to invite some officials for questioning without asking them to relinquish their positions.
The lawyer further described the reported plan by the Chief of Staff to file a defamation suit against the principal suspect as a distraction from the ongoing investigation. He insisted that the priority should be to allow investigators to carry out their work without interference and urged anti-corruption agencies to apply the law impartially. According to him, public confidence in the investigation will depend on whether all those implicated are treated equally, regardless of their status or office.