Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has called on President Bola Tinubu to order a transparent and independent PFIPC scandal investigation, giving the President a seven-day ultimatum to act. He warned that any delay could reinforce public suspicion that influential government officials may have benefited from the controversy.
In a statement issued through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku argued that the controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) had moved beyond allegations of forgery to become a broader issue of institutional accountability.
He maintained that many Nigerians seeking government appointments may have been deceived through what he described as a scheme that appeared to operate with official protection. Atiku also challenged explanations previously offered by the Presidency through presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, saying they failed to adequately address key concerns raised by the public.
According to Atiku, it is difficult to accept claims that one individual could allegedly establish a government office, obtain office accommodation within a public facility, engage foreign embassy officials, visit the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), process staff salaries and allegedly operate institutional accounts without the knowledge or involvement of government officials.
He said: “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.”
While stating that Adeniyi Adeyemi should face legal consequences if found guilty of wrongdoing, Atiku insisted the more pressing issue is how government systems allegedly allowed such activities to continue unnoticed. He questioned whether an individual’s personal conduct alone could explain reported budgetary allocations, office space approvals, engagements with government officials and interactions with foreign delegations.
The former vice president also referenced reports indicating that the PFIPC received allocations in the 2026 Appropriation Act and that more than 300 personnel were reportedly approved for recruitment through the Office of the Head of the Civil Service. According to him, such processes involve several institutions and cannot occur without official procedures.
Quoting Nigerian author Chinua Achebe, Atiku argued that responsibility should not be shifted entirely to one individual while institutional failures remain unaddressed.
He further noted that Prince Adeyemi’s public denial of the allegations and claims that powerful figures were attempting to silence him make an independent PFIPC scandal investigation even more necessary. Atiku said only a comprehensive inquiry, rather than official statements, can establish the facts.
“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.
The former vice president maintained that a credible PFIPC scandal investigation is essential to restoring public confidence in government institutions and ensuring accountability.
