Atiku Gives Tinubu Seven-Day Ultimatum to Order Independent Probe into PFIPC Scandal
Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has given President Bola Tinubu a seven-day ultimatum to order what he described as a transparent, comprehensive and independent investigation into the controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
Atiku warned that failure to launch an independent probe would deepen public suspicion that influential figures within the government may have benefited from the alleged fraud and that unsuspecting Nigerians seeking public sector appointments may have fallen victim to a fraudulent scheme operating under official protection.
The former Vice President made the demand on Friday amid growing controversy over the purported government agency, following the Presidency’s insistence that the PFIPC is not a legitimate federal institution. The Presidency had also described the agency’s alleged Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi, as an impostor currently facing criminal prosecution over allegations of forgery and impersonation.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the controversy had gone beyond allegations of forgery and now raised serious concerns about the credibility of government institutions and oversight mechanisms.
He argued that the Presidency’s explanation failed to address fundamental questions regarding the operations of the purported agency.
According to him, it was difficult to believe that a single individual could establish an office, secure office space within a government facility, hold meetings with foreign diplomats, visit the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), process staff salaries through official channels and allegedly operate institutional accounts without the knowledge, approval or collaboration of government officials.
“If Mr. Adeniyi Adeyemi committed fraud, he must face the law. But the bigger question is this: what kind of government system allows such an elaborate operation to pass through budgetary, administrative, security and institutional channels without detection?” Atiku queried.
He maintained that the issue was no longer about the actions of one individual but about the institutional processes that allegedly recognised and facilitated the activities of an agency the Presidency insists never existed.
The ADC chieftain questioned how the purported agency secured office accommodation, processed official transactions and interacted with government institutions despite allegedly lacking legal recognition.
Atiku also cited reports that the PFIPC was captured in the 2026 Appropriation Act with a multi-billion naira allocation and that the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation allegedly approved the recruitment of more than 300 personnel into the agency.
He argued that such developments could not be dismissed as administrative oversights, noting that budget preparation and recruitment into the Federal Civil Service involve rigorous institutional procedures, approvals and financial clearances.
“It stretches credibility beyond reasonable limits to suggest that an agency described as entirely fictitious could appear in official budget documents, reportedly obtain recruitment approval for hundreds of personnel, secure official office space, interact with state institutions and foreign missions, and yet have no enablers within government,” he said.
Atiku further noted that fresh claims by Adeyemi, who has consistently denied allegations of forgery and maintained that his appointment was legitimate, reinforced the need for an independent investigation.
He insisted that the Presidency could not determine the authenticity of Adeyemi’s claims through press statements, stressing that only an impartial investigation could establish the facts.
“Let every document be examined. Let every approval be traced. Let every official who acted, neglected a duty or enabled this scandal be identified and held accountable,” he stated.
The former Vice President said the controversy now extends beyond one individual and touches on the integrity of Nigeria’s budgeting process, the credibility of the Federal Civil Service and the accountability of the Presidency.
He therefore urged President Tinubu to immediately order a comprehensive and independent investigation into the matter, warning that anything short of that would amount to complicity through silence.
The PFIPC controversy has dominated public discourse in recent days following conflicting claims over the existence of the agency.
While the Presidency maintains that no such government body exists and has accused Adeyemi of forging his appointment documents, Adeyemi has rejected the allegations, insisting that he was lawfully appointed and possesses valid official documents.
The Presidency has also disclosed that Adeyemi and two others are standing trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges bordering on conspiracy, forgery and impersonation, with the case scheduled for hearing later this month.