Former APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary Timi Frank has called for a forensic investigation into the mysterious death of Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola, whom authorities identified as a key intermediary in the alleged appointment and bribery scandal involving the Presidency.
Frank made the call in a statement on Friday. He said Tanimola’s parents, family, relatives, and Nigerians deserve to know how he died.
He argued that Tanimola could have helped expose the truth behind the controversy linked to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
The Presidency had dismissed allegations against the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila. Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga defended the Presidency over claims involving the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) and its Director General, Adeniyi Adeyemi.
Frank noted that the Presidency said police confirmed Tanimola died in a hotel in Abuja five days before authorities arrested Prince Adeyemi. He insisted investigators must fully uncover the circumstances surrounding the death.
Frank said Tanimola reportedly acted as the intermediary between Prince Adeyemi and others in the alleged bribery and appointment scandal involving Gbajabiamila.
He maintained that investigators should leave no question unanswered.
Frank urged the international community, including the United States, the European Union, and other technologically advanced nations, to support Nigeria in uncovering the truth behind what he described as monumental corruption.
He argued that no ordinary citizen could enjoy government patronage without support from powerful officials.
He, however, cited annual budget allocations, office space at the Federal Secretariat, participation in foreign events, and meetings with National Assembly leaders, the EFCC chairman, and foreign ambassadors.
Frank questioned how the agency allegedly operated. He said it could not have opened an account with the Central Bank of Nigeria, received allocations, hired workers, and occupied government offices without the Presidency’s knowledge.
Frank added, “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 is information in the public domain that the purported Director General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention and Promotion Council enjoyed six police officers as escorts, official vehicles, and even an official residence.
“There were also media reports this Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration granted a waiver to PFIPC under Prince Adeyemi to recruit 300 members of staff in August 2025.
“The media reports revealed that Mimi Abu, director, organisation design and development, in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, conveyed the government’s approval for recruitment in a letter dated August 7, 2025.”
