The controversy surrounding the disowned “Presidential Investment Agency” has sparked national outrage, with Dr. Jackson Lekan Ojo, a former All Progressives Congress chieftain and security expert, warning that Nigeria is being turned into “a laughing stock” in the global community. Ojo, speaking in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, urged President Bola Tinubu to immediately suspend top government officials linked to the scandal, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, and the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila. He also named the Minister of Finance, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Head of Service of the Federation, and Director-General of the Budget Office as individuals who should be placed on administrative leave pending a full investigation.
Ojo emphasized that the scale and nature of the fraud raise serious questions about governance and accountability in Nigeria’s highest offices. He pointed out that the self-styled Director-General, Prince Matthew Adeyemi, was able to secure office space at the Federal Secretariat, get his budget approved by the National Assembly, host foreign ambassadors and EFCC officials, and even recruit 300 staff—all without official recognition. “How did a fake man get an office space at the Federal Secretariat? How did a fake man get his budget passed from the presidency to the National Assembly?” Ojo asked, stressing that these are critical questions that must be answered.
He criticized the Presidency’s swift dismissal of Adeyemi as an impostor, calling it an attempt to downplay a serious issue. “It is so disheartening and disappointing that the presidency is taking Nigeria for granted and treating all of us as morons,” he said. Ojo recalled that former ministers of Humanitarian Affairs and Science & Technology were removed from office over financial misconduct and forgery, and he insisted that the current situation involving the Chief of Staff should not be treated differently. He warned that if Gbajabiamila is not suspended, President Tinubu’s administration would “woefully fail the integrity test.”
Ojo further cautioned that if one individual could bypass multiple layers of government—reaching from the Chief of Staff’s office to the Budget Office, Accountant General, Head of Service, National Assembly, and Central Bank with forged documents—then the entire system is vulnerable. “That is to say, nothing is safe in this country,” he stated. He urged the President to act decisively to protect Nigeria’s reputation and restore public confidence. “Handling this issue with levity and unnecessary political sympathy will further damage Nigeria’s image globally,” he added.
The call for immediate suspension of key officials reflects growing public concern over transparency and accountability in the federal government. As investigations continue, the nation watches closely to see how the administration will respond to this crisis of confidence.
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