ADC Demands Independent Probe Into PFIPC Scandal, Wants Tinubu To Set Up Judicial Commission

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ABUJA – The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to establish an independent Ju­dicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).

The party said that the mat­ter raises serious questions about governance, accountabil­ity and the integrity of public institutions.

In a statement issued on Friday by its National Publici­ty Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party said it had closely followed the allegations surrounding the PFIPC and claims of bribery involving the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.

The party argued that the controversy extends beyond al­legations against any individual and has become a national issue requiring an independent inves­tigation.

According to the ADC, the Presidency’s response to the al­legations has failed to address critical questions about how an organisation it reportedly described as “fictitious” could allegedly interact with govern­ment ministries, public insti­tutions and foreign diplomats while also appearing to enjoy official recognition.

The ADC maintained that if the Presidency’s position is correct, Nigerians deserve a full explanation of how such an organisation allegedly se­cured official approvals, re­cruitment waivers, budgetary allocations and engagements with various government agencies. It added that if the PFIPC is not fictitious, then the government should ex­plain why it is distancing itself from the council.

The opposition party identi­fied several government offic­es and institutions it believes should be investigated as part of an independent inquiry. These include the Office of the Chief of Staff, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Budget Office, the Ministry of For­eign Affairs, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Police Force, the Of­fice of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Central Bank of Nigeria and relevant committees of the National Assembly.

The party also called for an investigation into the role of Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, whose activities and claims, it said, should be fully examined.

According to the ADC, the proposed judicial panel should be empowered to summon wit­nesses, compel the production of documents and determine whether there was any negli­gence, misconduct, abuse of office or criminal wrongdoing connected to the matter.

The party further argued that an independent inquiry would help restore public confidence in government institutions, in­sisting that press statements and selective denials would not ade­quately resolve the issues raised by the controversy.

The ADC also criticised what it described as a double standard in the government’s handling of corruption allegations, noting that security and anti-corrup­tion agencies had previously acted swiftly in cases involving political opponents, while no similar action had been taken against officials linked to the PFIPC allegations.