Gbajabiamila saga: Daddy Freeze, journalist urge Nigerians to focus on facts

Media personality Ifedayo Olarinde, popularly known as Daddy Freeze, and journalist Fegiro Johnson have called for evidence-based public discourse over the bribery allegations involving the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, warning Nigerians against allowing emotions to overshadow facts.

Their comments come amid the ongoing investigation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) into allegations made by Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, who accused Gbajabiamila of collecting a ₦400 million bribe in connection with the purported Public Fund Projects Inspection Commission (PFIPC), an agency the Presidency has since described as fictitious and without legal backing.

In a video shared on social media, Daddy Freeze questioned the basis of the allegations, citing reports that Adeyemi admitted he never met Gbajabiamila in person and communicated only through an alleged intermediary, Babatunde Tanmola.

According to him, allegations involving such a large sum of money should ordinarily be supported by verifiable evidence, including text messages, call records, bank transfers or other documentation.

“How do you accuse someone of collecting ₦400 million from you when you admit you’ve never met the person?” he asked, adding that even routine financial transactions are usually accompanied by receipts and communication records.

Daddy Freeze stressed that he was neither defending the Chief of Staff nor expressing support for any politician, but argued that public opinion should be guided by evidence rather than assumptions.

He also noted that photographs with public officials do not constitute proof of financial dealings and urged Nigerians to allow investigators to establish the facts before reaching conclusions.

Similarly, journalist Fegiro Johnson urged Nigerians to separate facts from emotions, warning that anyone could make allegations against prominent individuals without credible proof.

Writing on X, Johnson argued that while many Nigerians may be critical of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) or President Bola Tinubu’s administration, such sentiments should not replace objective assessment of evidence.

He questioned how a ₦400 million payment could allegedly have been made without receipts, transfer records, screenshots, chats or other documentary evidence.

Johnson also claimed that the alleged appointment letter linked to the controversy neither bore Gbajabiamila’s signature nor originated from his office.

The interventions have fuelled fresh debate on social media, with supporters and critics of the Chief of Staff divided over whether the allegations have been substantiated.

Gbajabiamila has consistently denied the allegations, insisting he never met Adeyemi, never authorised anyone to collect money on his behalf and had no knowledge of the alleged intermediary or transactions. The ICPC has yet to conclude its investigation into the matter.