Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has demanded a forensic investigation into the alleged death of one Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola, whom he described as the principal intermediary in the alleged bribery and appointment scandal involving the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, regarding the establishment of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
The political activist insisted that Nigerians deserved to know the circumstances surrounding Tanimola’s death, calling on the international community to help uncover the truth behind the controversy.
The demand was contained in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, and personally signed by Frank, in which he also urged the United States, the European Union (EU) and other technologically advanced nations to assist in uncovering what he described as the truth behind the controversial bribery scandal involving Gbajabiamila on the purported establishment of PFIPC and appointment of Prince Adeyemi as its pioneer Director-General.
Frank said the alleged death of Tanimola, whom he identified as the principal intermediary and go-between for the non-existent director-general of the PFIPC, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, came at a critical time when his testimony could have helped unravel the controversy surrounding the formation of the purported agency, which the Federal Government has denied knowledge of.
According to him, “for accountability sake, the parents, family members, relatives and the nation at large, the public deserve to know what led to Tanimola’s death at a time when his presence would have helped to uncover the truths in the current scandal rocking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government.”
The former APC spokesman recalled that the Presidency, in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, had dismissed allegations against Gbajabiamila over the activities of the PFIPC and its Director-General, Prince Adeyemi.
He noted that the Presidency had also stated that the police confirmed Tanimola died in a hotel in Abuja five days before Adeyemi was arrested.
Reacting to the Presidency’s position, Frank insisted that the circumstances surrounding Tanimola’s death required an independent forensic investigation.
“The circumstances leading to Tanimola’s death must be uncovered and unravelled because he was identified as an intermediary and go-between for Prince Adeyemi in the bribery and appointment scandal involving the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.”
He urged the international community to support efforts aimed at uncovering what he described as monumental corruption in Nigeria.
Frank specifically appealed to the United States, the European Union and other technologically developed countries to help unravel “the true circumstances behind the current monumental corruption rocking Nigeria.”
He argued that it was “impossible for an ordinary citizen to boldly operate and enjoy government patronages, including having an annual allocation, secured office at the Federal Secretariat, representing the nation at foreign events, hosted National Assembly leadership, EFCC boss, foreign ambassadors, among others without having the backing of the presidency.”
Frank further questioned how the alleged agency could have opened a Central Bank of Nigeria account, received government allocations, recruited staff and operated from a government building without the knowledge of the Presidency.
He maintained that key government institutions should by now be answering questions regarding the agency’s operations.
“By now, we expected the Office of the Chief of Staff, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the Central Bank, the Budget Office, the National Assembly, and the relevant security agencies to be answering uncomfortable questions.
“Despite widespread claims that the agency Prince Adeyemi ran did not legally exist, there are informations in public domain that the purported Director General of Presidential Foreign Intervention and Promotion Council enjoyed six police officers as escorts, official vehicles, and even an official residence.”
He further cited media reports alleging that the Tinubu administration granted the PFIPC a waiver to recruit 300 members of staff in August 2025.
According to Frank, the reports stated that Mimi Abu, Director of Organisation Design and Development in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, conveyed the approval in a letter dated August 7, 2025.
Describing the controversy as “the monumental corruption of the century,” Frank called on Nigerians at home and abroad, civil society organisations, opinion leaders and all patriotic citizens not to remain silent.
He said, “Nigerians must rise up and condemn this open and brazen impunity perpetuated by the very custodians of the collective heritage and trust of the Nigerian people.”
Frank, who is also the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, alleged that the developments under the current administration reflected incompetence.
He claimed they showed “that President Tinubu is not in charge of his government,” adding that Nigerians should not allow him to continue beyond 2027.
The former APC spokesman also criticised the National Assembly, arguing that if it had effectively discharged its constitutional oversight responsibilities, “such acclaimed agency would not have seen the light of the day.”
The Presidency has denied allegations linking Gbajabiamila to the activities of the PFIPC, maintaining that the claims are false and that the relevant law enforcement authorities are handling issues relating to the case.
