0
Former Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has renewed his call for an independent investigation into the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) scandal, alleging attempts by the Bola Tinubu administration to divert attention from key issues and shield those who should be held accountable.
Atiku, in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, described the recent arrest of the self-styled Director-General of the PFIPC, Adeniyi Adeyemi, as insufficient to resolve the controversy, insisting that the investigation must go beyond the actions of one individual.
According to Atiku, the central question is how an organisation the Presidency has reportedly described as non-existent allegedly operated within the highest levels of government, secured diplomatic recognition, recruited hundreds of personnel, obtained office accommodation at the Federal Secretariat and was reportedly captured in the national budget.
“The scandal is not merely that one man allegedly impersonated public authority. The greater question is how such an organisation allegedly gained access to government institutions and operated with apparent official recognition,” he said.
The former Vice President also linked the PFIPC controversy to what he described as questionable provisions in the 2026 Appropriation Act, drawing attention to an allocation of ₦6.44 billion for a “Special Presidential Support Group for the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.”
He questioned why such a provision appeared in the budget despite Nigeria’s elimination from the qualification race months before the budget was presented.
“How does a government budget ₦6.44 billion for World Cup qualifiers after Nigeria had already been eliminated? Who inserted the provision, who approved it, and what was the intended purpose of the allocation?” Atiku queried.
He argued that the budgetary provision raises broader concerns about transparency, fiscal discipline and the integrity of the federal budgeting process.
The statement also referenced allegations made by Adeyemi, including claims that he paid about ₦400 million in bribes to secure his position and mentioned senior government officials. Atiku stressed that the allegations remain unproven and should be subjected to an independent, transparent, and impartial investigation.
According to him, the PFIPC controversy has become a major test of accountability and should not be treated as an isolated incident or resolved through what he described as a controlled internal process.
Atiku expressed reservations about the Federal Government’s decision to have the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) investigate the matter, arguing that a probe conducted by agencies under the executive may not inspire public confidence.
He maintained that an independent investigation was necessary because the allegations touch on individuals within the administration.
The former Vice President also raised concerns over what he described as attempts to influence public perception of the controversy while legal proceedings relating to aspects of the matter are ongoing.
He called on the National Assembly to constitute a bipartisan panel to investigate every aspect of the PFIPC controversy and appealed to the Nigerian Bar Association, civil society organisations, the diplomatic community and other stakeholders to support a transparent process.
“Nigerians deserve to know who authorised the PFIPC, how it allegedly gained access to government institutions, who facilitated its operations and whether public funds were allocated to it. The country deserves a credible investigation that establishes the facts and strengthens public confidence in governance,” Atiku said.
