The PFIPC scandal has taken a new political turn after the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, gave President Bola Tinubu a seven-day ultimatum to order what he described as a transparent, comprehensive and independent investigation into the controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
In a statement issued through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former vice president argued that the controversy had evolved beyond allegations of forgery into a matter affecting public confidence in government institutions. According to Atiku, the explanation earlier provided by the Presidency through presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga failed to answer critical questions surrounding the operations of the agency.
He questioned how one individual could allegedly establish an office within a government facility, hold meetings with foreign diplomatic missions, visit the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), process staff salaries through official channels and reportedly operate institutional accounts without the knowledge or involvement of government officials.
“If the government wants Nigerians to believe that one man single-handedly created an office for himself, secured office space within a government facility, held meetings with foreign embassy delegations, paid courtesy visits to the EFCC, processed staff salaries through official channels, allegedly operated institutional accounts, and carried on all these activities without the knowledge, approval, negligence or collaboration of anyone within government, then that narrative raises even more troubling questions than it answers.”
Discussing the PFIPC scandal, Atiku maintained that while Adeniyi Adeyemi should face legal consequences if found guilty of fraud, greater attention should be given to the government systems that allegedly enabled the operation. He argued that institutional processes involving budget approvals, office allocation, recruitment and administrative oversight could not simply be attributed to the actions of one individual.
“Haba. Nigerians cannot be asked to swallow such a story whole,” he said.
Atiku further questioned whether an individual’s alleged conduct alone could explain reported budgetary allocations, office accommodation within government facilities and engagements with public institutions. He stressed that Nigerians deserved a clear explanation of how the institutional processes unfolded.
The former vice president also referred to reports indicating that the PFIPC appeared in the 2026 Appropriation Act with a budget allocation running into billions of naira. He further cited reports alleging that the Office of the Head of the Civil Service approved the recruitment of more than 300 personnel into the agency.
According to Atiku, such actions involve established government procedures and multiple institutions, making an independent investigation necessary. Quoting renowned Nigerian author Chinua Achebe, he argued that responsibility should not be shifted solely to one individual while questions surrounding government institutions remain unanswered.
Atiku said recent claims by Prince Adeyemi, who reportedly denied the allegations against him and alleged that influential individuals were attempting to silence him, further strengthened the need for an impartial investigation. He insisted that only a comprehensive inquiry could establish the full facts surrounding the PFIPC scandal, warning that reliance on official statements alone would not restore public confidence.
“Nigeria deserves the truth. Quietly investigating the matter and addressing the lapses would have been better than publicly presenting a story that collapses under its own contradictions. The President must order a comprehensive, independent investigation immediately. Anything short of that will amount to complicity by silence,” he said.
