Director-General of the phantom Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to broaden the ongoing investigation into the alleged PFIPC scandal, insisting that only an independent, multi-stakeholder panel can guarantee transparency and public confidence in the process.
In an open letter dated July 13, 2026, Adeyemi welcomed President Tinubu’s directive to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged PFIPC controversy and the reported ₦1.3 billion allocation inserted into the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
He described the presidential directive as an important first step but argued that the current structure of the investigation may not be sufficient to address all the issues involved.
“I write to you not as a fugitive evading accountability, but as a Nigerian citizen who maintains an unwavering belief in equity, justice, and the rule of law,” he wrote.
Adeyemi added, “I commend your recent directive tasking the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) with investigating the circumstances surrounding the PFIPC Scandal and ₦1.3 billion allocation inserted into the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
“This directive is a vital first step, but the structural realities of this investigation compel me to speak out of a profound desire for absolute transparency.”
According to him, the investigation should go beyond existing government structures to inspire public confidence.
“Under the current framework, obtaining a truly impartial hearing presents severe structural challenges. The public narrative emanating from official channels remains heavily weighted toward my immediate arrest, effectively overshadowing the gravity of the systemic vulnerabilities and high-level involvement I have brought to light.”
He further argued that, “True accountability cannot be achieved when the agency conducting the investigation answers directly to the branch of government within which the core allegations lie.”
Adeyemi also claimed that his personal safety would be at risk if he voluntarily surrendered under the current arrangement.
“Furthermore, I must state clearly that walking freely into custody under the current arrangement poses an immediate, existential threat to my life. I have received verified, highly reliable intelligence indicating that I am targeted for elimination the moment I surface in an unmonitored environment,” he stated.
The PFIPC chief linked his concerns to the reported death of Mr. Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola, whom he described as a key intermediary in the matter.
“This is not an unfounded fear. My concerns are deeply validated by the highly alarming events surrounding Mr. Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola, a central intermediary in this matter.”
He questioned official reports that Tanimola died in a fire incident at Kachi Hotel in Utako, Abuja, claiming there was no independent confirmation of the incident.
“Official reports claim Mr. Tanimola tragically died in a sudden fire incident at Kachi Hotel in Utako, Abuja. Yet, there remains a total absence of independent eyewitness or media verification of any such inferno,” he said.
Adeyemi further alleged that the hotel was demolished shortly after the incident, thereby destroying what he described as a crucial crime scene.
“More disturbingly, under highly unclear circumstances and without the official involvement of any federal capital regulatory agency, the entire Kachi Hotel structure was swiftly invaded by unidentified armed actors and manually demolished down to the rubble days later—effectively erasing a vital physical crime scene and erasing material evidence.”
He said the alleged developments, coupled with what he described as attempts on his life and threats to his family, had forced him into hiding.
“Following this calculated destruction of a key locus of this investigation, alongside multiple direct attempts on my life and the safety of my family, I am forced to communicate from a secure, undisclosed location.”
To strengthen the credibility of the investigation, Adeyemi urged President Tinubu to establish an independent panel comprising civil society organisations, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), independent media representatives, international financial institutions, diplomatic observers, human rights organisations, and statutory anti-corruption agencies.
“If this investigation is to command the absolute trust of the Nigerian public and the international community, it must transcend standard bureaucratic boundaries,” he said.
He added, “Therefore, I respectfully urge Your Excellency to expand the scope of this inquiry by establishing an independent, multi-stakeholder investigative panel.”
Adeyemi proposed that the panel should include representatives of Amnesty International, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), the NBA, the United Nations, the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, ECOWAS, the African Union, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), as well as the ICPC and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He pledged to make himself available once such a panel is constituted.
“The moment this independent, multi-stakeholder panel is constituted, I will immediately step forward to present comprehensive documentation and verifiable evidences.”
He concluded by stating that, “A system cannot credibly investigate itself when its own key actors are central to the discourse.
“By broadening this panel, you will demonstrate to the world that your administration’s commitment to anti-corruption is absolute, institutional, and above palace politics. The international community is closely watching how Nigeria handles this test of fiscal integrity and governance.
“I remain fully prepared to present the facts and cooperate entirely with a balanced, secure, and independent panel.”
At the time of filing this report, there has been no official response from the Presidency, the ICPC, or other agencies mentioned regarding the specific claims raised in the letter.
