Political Firestorm: Timi Frank Demands Probe Into Intermediary's Alleged Pact Death

Comrade Timi Frank, the former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has called for an in-depth forensic investigation into the mysterious death of Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola. Tanimola has been identified by Frank as the primary intermediary in a significant alleged bribery and appointment scandal. This controversy reportedly involves Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to the President, and Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, concerning the supposed establishment of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).

In a statement released in Abuja, Frank, a political activist, emphasized the public's right to full disclosure regarding the circumstances surrounding Tanimola’s death. He passionately appealed to the international community, including the United States, the European Union, and other technologically advanced nations, for assistance in uncovering the truth behind this scandal. Frank highlighted that Tanimola’s alleged death occurred at a critical juncture, as his testimony could have been instrumental in unraveling the complexities surrounding the PFIPC, an agency whose existence has been denied by the Federal Government.

Frank asserted that "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." He recalled that the Presidency, through a statement from the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, had previously dismissed allegations against Gbajabiamila regarding the PFIPC's activities and its purported Director-General, Prince Adeyemi. The Presidency's statement also mentioned that police confirmed Tanimola’s death in an Abuja hotel five days prior to Adeyemi's arrest.

However, Frank vehemently countered the Presidency's position, insisting that an independent forensic investigation into Tanimola’s death is imperative. He stressed, “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.”

The former APC spokesman further questioned the operational aspects of the alleged PFIPC. He argued that it would be "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 probed how an alleged non-existent agency could open a Central Bank of Nigeria account, receive government allocations, recruit staff, and operate from a government building without the Presidency's knowledge.

Frank maintained that several key government institutions should by now be facing scrutiny over the PFIPC’s purported operations. He specifically named “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” as entities that should be "answering uncomfortable questions." He also cited information in the public domain alleging that Prince Adeyemi, the purported Director General, enjoyed substantial government privileges, including six police escorts, official vehicles, and an official residence, despite claims that the agency did not legally exist.

Adding to the controversy, Frank referenced media reports alleging that the Tinubu administration granted the PFIPC a waiver to recruit 300 members of staff in August 2025. These reports stated that Mimi Abu, the Director of Organisation Design and Development in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, conveyed this approval via a letter dated August 7, 2025.

Describing the entire affair as “the monumental corruption of the century,” Frank urged Nigerians both at home and abroad, civil society organizations, opinion leaders, and all patriotic citizens not to remain silent. He called for a collective condemnation of what he termed “this open and brazen impunity perpetuated by the very custodians of the collective heritage and trust of the Nigerian people.” Frank, who also serves as the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, alleged that these developments reflect a profound incompetence within the current administration, suggesting that President Tinubu is not truly in charge of his government. He also criticized the National Assembly for its alleged failure to effectively discharge its constitutional oversight responsibilities, which he believes would have prevented such an "acclaimed agency" from coming into existence.

Despite these strong accusations, the Presidency has consistently denied any allegations linking Chief of Staff Gbajabiamila to the activities of the PFIPC, reaffirming that the claims are false and that relevant law enforcement authorities are actively handling all related matters.