Atiku Abubakar
African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has called for an independent judicial investigation into the controversy surrounding the alleged Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), insisting that the Federal Government must fully explain the circumstances surrounding the purported agency and its operations.
Atiku in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja, by his media office said the allegations linked to the PFIPC had raised serious questions about transparency and accountability within the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The statement followed a disclaimer by presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, who reportedly described Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew and the PFIPC as fraudulent.
However, the Atiku Media Office argued that the presidency’s response failed to address key issues surrounding the matter.
It said: “The beleaguered and scandal-prone government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should not continue to sweep under the carpet or treat as ‘family affairs’ the litany of unforced fraud and corruption errors bedeviling the administration – the latest being the alleged monumental scam of a ‘ghost Federal Government Agency’ in the heart of the presidency.”
The opposition media office questioned how an alleged non-existent federal agency could reportedly operate from the Federal Secretariat without attracting official scrutiny.
It also asked: “How did an unknown state actor manage to create and reside a federal government agency in the Federal Secretariat, which is under the supervision of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, without being detected?”
The statement further queried: “How did he secure a budgetary code and allocation of N1.3 billion in the 2026 national budget?”
According to the media office, Prince Adeyemi was seen engaging with senior government officials, lawmakers, heads of agencies, diplomats and traditional rulers, arguing that such interactions raised further questions about the status of the PFIPC.
It maintained that the claim that the council was a “ghost agency” was difficult to reconcile with reports that it exchanged official correspondence with both chambers of the National Assembly.
The statement also called for those allegedly linked to the controversy, including Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, to publicly account for their roles.
It stated: “The Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and others alleged to be involved in this scandal cannot excuse themselves with a mere press statement. Public servants and political leaders must be accountable for their stewardship. We demand a forensic public probe. No amount of government-speak or scented propaganda can clear this mess.”
The media office further said the presidency’s disclaimer did not address allegations that Prince Adeyemi claimed to have paid a N400 million bribe to the Chief of Staff.
It also referenced the death of Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola, described in the statement as an alleged intermediary in the controversy, insisting that the circumstances surrounding the matter should form part of any comprehensive investigation.
According to the statement, “The Tinubu presidency cannot continue to be judges in cases involving themselves or their cronies. Nigerians are tired of a series of unresolved scandals under the watch of Tinubu.”
The Atiku Media Office urged the government to ensure that Prince Adeyemi’s trial, if prosecuted, is conducted transparently and that all individuals connected to the allegations are invited to explain their roles.
It added that the matter should be conclusively resolved before the 2027 general elections to strengthen public confidence in government institutions and the electoral process.
