Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on the National Assembly to immediately summon the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) to appear jointly before its investigative committee over the PFIPC accounts scandal. Atiku said both officials should testify under oath to provide Nigerians with a single, factual account of the controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) accounts.
The former Vice President made the demand in a statement issued on Wednesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, following conflicting testimonies reportedly presented by the CBN and the Office of the Accountant-General before the House of Representatives.
According to Atiku, the contradictory explanations from the two government institutions have raised serious questions about transparency and accountability.
He argued that one institution reportedly denied authorising the opening of the PFIPC accounts and alleged forgery, while the other maintained that the accounts were opened on the directive of the Accountant-General after due process. The former Vice President insisted that both positions cannot simultaneously be correct, describing the situation as the beginning of what he called a cover-up.
Commenting further on the PFIPC accounts scandal, Atiku said the conflicting narratives have plunged the Tinubu administration into one of the most significant credibility challenges in Nigeria’s democratic history.
He maintained that President Bola Tinubu should publicly clarify which version of events he considers accurate. According to him, continued silence from the Presidency risks increasing public suspicion that protecting the administration’s image has taken precedence over uncovering the truth.
Atiku also faulted the Attorney-General of the Federation for not publicly addressing the matter. He argued that the continued silence of the nation’s chief law officer has further fuelled concerns surrounding the controversy and strengthened perceptions that authorities are more focused on managing political fallout than establishing the facts.
The former Vice President said the controversy has grown beyond a disagreement over disputed financial accounts. According to him, the PFIPC accounts scandal now raises wider questions about institutional oversight, transparency and the effectiveness of Nigeria’s financial governance systems. He questioned how similar alleged irregularities could have gone unnoticed if stronger accountability mechanisms had been in place.
Atiku reiterated that President Tinubu owes Nigerians an explanation over the controversy and called for a genuinely independent investigation into the matter. He maintained that all individuals found responsible should be held accountable in accordance with the law to restore public confidence in government institutions.
The former Vice President further argued that failure to take decisive action would continue to undermine public trust, insisting that transparency and accountability remain essential to preserving confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
