ABUJA:  Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to President Bola Tinubu to launch a transparent and independent investigation into the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).

Atiku warned that a failure to investigate the matter would intensify public suspicion regarding high-level government complicity and potential fraud surrounding public sector appointments.

Institutional Credibility Questioned

In a statement released by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku emphasized that the issue has transcended mere allegations of document forgery or impersonation. Instead, the scandal now poses a significant challenge to the credibility of Nigeria's governance structures.

The former Vice President challenged the official narrative provided by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. Atiku argued that the Presidency's explanation—which suggests an individual independently established the unauthorized council—fails to account for how the operation managed to secure office space within a government facility, engage with foreign embassies, conduct official visits to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and process staff salaries through formal channels.

While acknowledging that the central figure, Adeniyi Adeyemi, must face legal consequences if found guilty of wrongdoing, Atiku insisted that government institutions must be held accountable for administrative, financial, and security lapses that allowed the operation to function undetected.

Discrepancies in Budgeting and Recruitment

The call for an inquiry follows reports indicating that the PFIPC was included in the 2026 Appropriation Act with a multi-billion-naira allocation. Furthermore, allegations have surfaced that the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation approved the recruitment of over 300 personnel for the entity.

Atiku noted that because federal budgeting and civil service recruitment require rigorous, multi-layered institutional approvals from various ministries, the Budget Office, the National Assembly, and the Presidency, these developments cannot be dismissed as simple administrative oversights.

Call for an Independent Panel

Highlighting recent statements from Adeyemi—who denied the fraud allegations and claimed that powerful figures were attempting to silence him—Atiku maintained that the Presidency should not adjudicate the matter through media releases.

He concluded by urging President Tinubu to immediately establish an independent judicial panel to trace all approvals, examine financial records, and identify any official who enabled the alleged scheme, stating that the integrity of Nigeria's budgetary and civil service systems remains at stake.