Former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has called on the Federal Government to institute an independent investigation into the controversy surrounding the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), urging that the findings be made public.
In a statement issued on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described the controversy as “a full-blown crisis of institutional credibility” that could no longer be addressed through official statements alone.
He gave President Bola Ahmed Tinubu seven days to order what he described as a transparent, comrehensive and independent investigation into the matter.
The demand follows Wednesday’s disclosure by the Presidency that Adeniyi Adeyemi, convener of the purported PFIPC, allegedly forged official documents to present himself as the Director-General of the council and a presidential appointee.
The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, had revealed that the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force in October 2025 following complaints about the activities of the purported agency.
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According to the Presidency, the police subsequently arrested Adeyemi, recovered forged documents, uncovered 34 bank accounts allegedly linked to him and arraigned him alongside two others before a Federal High Court in Abuja on an eight-count charge.
However, Atiku argued that the Presidency’s explanation had raised more questions than it answered.
He questioned how an agency now described as fictitious was allegedly able to secure office space within a government facility, engage foreign diplomatic missions, visit the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, process staff salaries and reportedly operate institutional bank 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,” Atiku said.
He added that the explanation appeared less like a complete account of events and more like an attempt to isolate one individual after an internal arrangement had broken down.
The former vice-president further cited reports that the PFIPC appeared in the 2026 Appropriation Act and allegedly received approval to recruit more than 300 personnel, arguing that such developments could not be dismissed as mere administrative errors.
According to him, the budget preparation process involves several government institutions, including ministries, departments and agencies, the Budget Office, the National Assembly and ultimately presidential approval, while recruitment into the Federal Civil Service also follows established administrative procedures.
He maintained that attention should shift from the actions of one individual to the institutional processes that may have enabled the alleged irregularities or failed to detect them.
Atiku also referenced Adeyemi’s recent denial of the allegations against him and his claim that influential individuals were attempting to silence him, insisting that only an independent investigation could establish the truth.
He urged President Tinubu to direct a full-scale probe into the controversy, ensure all relevant documents are scrutinised, trace every approval connected to the alleged agency and hold accountable any official found culpable.
“Anything short of that will amount to complicity by silence,” Atiku said.