A leaked memo shows President Bola Tinubu’s chief of staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, cited a non-existent legal provision to secure N54 billion from the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.
Memo Shows Gbajabiamila Cited Fake Law To Grab N54bn
Documents seen by Peoples Gazette reveal that President Tinubu’s chief of staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, cited a fake law to corner N54 billion in oil and gas royalty from the NUPRC. Weeks after Tinubu’s 2023 inauguration, Gbajabiamila reportedly began pursuing funds from lucrative agencies, drafting a memo demanding that 1.5 per cent of NUPRC’s cost of collection—worth N54 billion—be ring-fenced for vague “metering and transparency systems.”
Gbajabiamila cited Section 24(2)(c) of the Petroleum Industry Act 2023 to justify the claim, but the Gazette’s checks found the section merely defines the commission’s fund sources and grants no such authority. The report further noted that under Section 24(1) of the PIA, appropriation powers rest with the National Assembly, not the presidency.
Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga defended Gbajabiamila, insisting he “did not commandeer any money” and that the directive fell within Tinubu’s powers as president. The presidency did not address the inaccuracy of the cited law.
The report also revisited Gbajabiamila’s history of scandal, including his 2020 disbarment by the State Bar of Georgia over alleged client theft, and a 2022 allegation that he accepted $2 million in bribes to pass the Petroleum Industry Bill as House Speaker.
Separately, PFIPC’s Adeniyi Adeyemi has accused Gbajabiamila of collecting N400 million through a proxy and demanding N200 million more to secure his appointment—claims Gbajabiamila denies. Tinubu has ordered a 30-day investigation into the allegations, with a pledge to prosecute anyone found culpable.
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