Presidency, Gbajabiamila Face Fresh Scrutiny Over Alleged N54bn NUPRC Fund Diversion

Fresh controversy has erupted around the Presidency following an investigative report by Peoples Gazette alleging that President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, facilitated the diversion of ₦54 billion from the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) by relying on what the publication described as an inapplicable provision of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
According to the report, Gbajabiamila, shortly after assuming office as Chief of Staff in 2023, authored a memo seeking presidential approval for the allocation of 1.5 per cent of the NUPRC’s cost of collection, purportedly for the upgrading of crude oil metering and transparency systems.
The newspaper alleged that the request, which reportedly translated to about ₦54 billion, was justified by citing Section 24(2)(c) of the Petroleum Industry Act. However, the publication argued that the cited provision merely establishes the sources of the Commission’s funds and does not authorize the Presidency to appropriate or redirect the Commission’s internally generated revenue.
The report further contended that Section 24(1) of the same Act provides that expenditures from the Commission’s fund are subject to appropriation by the National Assembly, raising questions about whether the Presidency possessed the legal authority to direct the utilisation of the funds.
Responding to the allegations, Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga defended the Chief of Staff, maintaining that Gbajabiamila merely implemented directives approved by President Tinubu and insisting that no funds were unlawfully commandeered.
The Presidency did not directly address the newspaper’s contention regarding the interpretation of the cited legal provision but argued that the President acted within his constitutional authority.
The report has renewed public debate over transparency in the management of public resources and the scope of presidential authority over statutory agencies established by law.
The publication also revisited previous allegations involving Gbajabiamila, including the ongoing controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), where allegations of bribery and financial misconduct have been made against him. Gbajabiamila has denied wrongdoing, while President Tinubu has directed that the allegations be investigated.
As of the time of filing this report, no court has determined the legality of the NUPRC fund allocation or made findings on the allegations against the Chief of Staff. The claims contained in the Peoples Gazette investigation remain disputed, and the Presidency continues to maintain that its actions were lawful.