Human rights lawyer and public affairs analyst Maxwell Okpara has called for the arrest of Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Esther Walson-Jack, over the ongoing investigation into the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).
Okpara made the remarks on Tuesday during an interview on Arise Television, arguing that all individuals linked to the investigation should be treated equally under the law.
His comments come a day after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) questioned Gbajabiamila as part of its investigation into the alleged operations of the purported agency.
According to Okpara, allegations surrounding the PFIPC, including the provision of office space, the opening of bank accounts and the appointment of officials, warrant a thorough investigation involving everyone allegedly connected to the matter.
He noted that the individual identified as the alleged director of the agency, Adeyemi Adeniyi, is already in police custody, adding that other persons mentioned in connection with the investigation should also be subjected to the same legal process.
“An office was given to the fake agency. An account was opened for the fake agency. Somebody was acting as a director in the fake agency, and the person said that money was given to some persons, and a lot of issues surrounded this particular investigation. Now the question is who are the suspects?” Okpara said.
He continued, “We have the principal suspect, who is the fake director, so to say, or the alleged fake director, Mr. Adeyemi Adeniyi, who is now with the police.
“There are some other suspects; Gbajabiamila, the AGF and HoS. All these people should be arrested. Now, tell us that you have invited the Chief of Staff to come and make a statement. Have they been arrested like the principal suspect?
“Please, nobody is above the law. None of all these persons is above the law. None of them is enjoying immunity. One expected that the proper thing to do is to arrest all of them.”
The ICPC has not announced any charges against Gbajabiamila, Ogunjimi or Walson-Jack, and the investigation into the PFIPC remains ongoing.
