Presidency Silent on 2026 Budget Council Appointment Scandal

The Nigerian Presidency has not addressed the provision for a disputed council in the 2026 budget, which allocates ₦1,302,978,784, including ₦300,000,000 for capital expenditure. Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, issued a public disclaimer disowning the appointment of Adeniyi Adeyemi as head of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.

Gbajabiamila stated that no such appointment exists under Tinubu's administration and accused Adeyemi of demanding ₦27,395,510,136 from a grant agency. Allegations also surfaced that Gbajabiamila collected ₦400 million in a proxy security appointment, with ₦200 million pending.

The Chief of Staff requested an investigation into the matter, highlighting that Adeyemi operated 34 bank accounts under fictitious agency names. The Department of State Services (DSS) and police were asked to probe the fraudulent activities linked to Adeyemi, who allegedly used fake documents to mislead government offices and facilitate visa applications.