Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the African Democratic Congress’ presidential candidate, has challenged President Bola Tinubu to name government personnel implicated in the controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council.
Atiku remarked that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission’s interim findings did not exonerate the president.
He claimed that the report, which purportedly identified negligence and ‘connivance’ in government processes, instead raised new questions about how a fictitious impostor was able to operate within official circles, gain access to government facilities and instruments, and open accounts in the names of bogus government agencies.
In a statement issued on Friday on Atiku’s behalf by his senior special assistant on public communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former vice president stated that the government could not acknowledge process failures while claiming that the State House system was completely transparent.
“If there was connivance, who connived? If public officers were negligent, who are they? Who granted access to government offices? Who recognized this supposed director-general? Who enabled him to operate within the machinery of government?” Atiku queried.
The ADC presidential candidate stated that the disclosed discoveries have effectively destroyed any attempt to portray the issue as the product of a single fraudster.
Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-styled director of the disputed agency, is accused of forging a presidential appointment letter, creating a fictitious federal agency, appropriating offices and instruments previously associated with the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, opening bank accounts using forged legislative instruments, and allegedly creating two additional fictitious government agencies.
Tinubu issued a decree on July 7, 2026, directing the ICPC to conduct a complete 30-day probe into the PFIPC affair following weeks of public outcry.
The President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, who was featured in the dispute, came before the ICPC on July 20 to provide information as part of the inquiry and has subsequently filed a N15 billion defamation suit against Adeyemi.
Adeyemi is already facing an eight-count criminal indictment before the Federal High Court in Abuja for conspiracy, forgery, and impersonation, which was brought by the police in November 2025.
He was rearrested in July for violating his release conditions and failing to attend arraignment, and he is scheduled to appear before the Federal High Court again later this month.
The House of Representatives has initiated a separate investigation into how the bogus entity received a N1.3 billion allocation in the 2026 appropriation act.
Speaking further, Atiku contended that such operations would not have been possible without lapses or assistance from those within the government structure.
“A fake agency does not walk into government offices by itself. A forged appointment letter does not validate itself. Bank accounts do not open themselves.
“Behind every door that opened, every process that was bypassed, and every official instrument that was accessed was a human being. Name them,” he challenged Tinubu.
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He stated that the reported recommendation for sanctions against public authorities whose incompetence allegedly assisted the operation highlighted the importance of making those officials’ identities and roles public.
He accused the administration of attempting to use the interim nature of the ICPC findings to cover those whose activities may have contributed to the alleged fraud.
“What the ICPC Interim Report has done, in the main, is to shield the identities of shadow operatives within the presidency who allegedly connived to enable the fraud.
“Their identities should be made public, and their roles fully explained. Nigerians deserve to know who did what, who authorized what, and who opened the doors that made this possible,” he added.
The ADC leader contended that an interim inquiry report could not be interpreted as a final pronouncement that the presidency had been cleared, especially while inquiries into potential collaborators and linked financial accounts were allegedly ongoing.
He thus reiterated his appeal for an impartial panel of inquiry to conduct a thorough examination into the matter.
Atiku also urged the National Assembly to hold a public inquiry on the scandal and broadcast the proceedings live.
His demand came in response to an alleged request from Adeyemi to appear before a National Assembly investigation.
Atiku argued that the invitation provided an opportunity for the government to demonstrate its commitment to transparency by allowing witnesses to speak publicly and under oath.
“The presidency now has nowhere left to hide. If Mr. Adeyemi is prepared to appear publicly, testify under oath, and answer questions before Nigerians, then let him be heard.
“The National Assembly should immediately institute an open, live-broadcast public hearing into this scandal,” he added.
He called on the presidency not to obstruct or shield anyone connected with the matter.
Atiku said, “If the villa is truly clean, it should be the first to welcome live television coverage. Let Nigerians watch, unedited, as the witnesses testify, and the evidence is presented under oath. What is the presidency afraid of?”
According to him, anything less than an open hearing will increase public suspicion that powerful individuals are being protected.
“You cannot admit negligence and connivance within government and simultaneously pronounce the system spotless. That is like washing charcoal and expecting white water,” he said.
