₦airaland Forum

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has demanded the establishment of an independent commission of inquiry to probe the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).

BACKGROUND

The PFIPC has come under scrutiny over the N1.3 billion budgetary allocation made to the council in the 2026 budget.

On June 11, Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to President Bola Tinubu, issued a public disclaimer disowning the appointment of Adeniyi Adeyemi as the head of the council.

The former speaker of the house of representatives said such an office “does not exist” under Tinubu’s government, and no appointment has been made in that regard.

But Adeyemi rejected Gbajabiamila’s claim, describing it as a contradiction in official government records.

The presidency would later accuse Adeyemi of forging documents, including an appointment letter, to present himself as the head of the alleged non-existent government agency.

On Tuesday, Tinubu directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to conduct a “thorough investigation” into the PFIPC controversy.

FG MUST SET UP AN INDEPENDENT PANEL’

In a statement issued on Wednesday through Phrank Shaibu, his senior special assistant on public communication, Atiku said Tinubu’s directive to the ICPC to investigate the matter was a response to the seven-day ultimatum he had earlier issued demanding a transparent probe.

He said Tinubu’s directive to the ICPC exposed contradictions in the presidency’s previous position that the matter had already been comprehensively investigated by the police, with a suspect arrested and criminal charges filed.

“If all of that is true, what exactly is the ICPC expected to spend another 30 days investigating?” Atiku asked.

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) said if the police probe was indeed comprehensive, another investigation by a government agency would be unnecessary.

“What Nigerians demanded was never another internal government investigation. We demanded an independent investigation,” he said.

Atiku proposed the immediate establishment of a special independent commission of inquiry comprising 10 eminent Nigerians nominated by the federal government, the ADC, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), civil society organisations (CSOs), the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and retired judicial officers.

He said the proposed panel should be empowered to conduct a comprehensive investigation into every aspect of the PFIPC affair, review investigative records compiled by the police and other security agencies, summon serving and former public officials where necessary, publish a white paper containing its findings and recommendations, and conclude its assignment within one month.

Atiku said only an independent commission, with representation from the government, opposition parties and CSOs, would command public confidence and restore trust in the outcome of the investigation.

9jatriot:
I think this request should be granted to them actually. That issue is too serious and embarrassing to say the least.

That level of fraud is too grand to be treated with kid gloves.

muykem:
You people can't thinking right again instead of asking for independent audit firm. Is ADC and NDC registered for investigation or what capacity do they have to carry out investigative audit. Unserious opposition figures that just like to play to the gallery.

9jatriot:
I think this request should be granted to them actually. That issue is too serious and embarrassing to say the least.

That level of fraud is too grand to be treated with kid gloves.

Dreal1247:
Atiku should not speak against corruption so that his hands don't get soiled. He that comes to equity must come with clean hands.

If these 3 people are going to be the major faces on the ballot paper in 2027, then I will be forced to vote President Tinubu — May Say Tinubu remains the best👇❤️🔥 pic.twitter.com/dnGBX3aoB7

— A. Ayofe (@abdullahayofel) July 9, 2026

Babangidapikin:
I don't think that's needed because on a normal day if Government is not so sweet , it's something Oga Gbaja would go on Leave for the 30 days of the probe timeline so as not to interfere with investigations, if resigning is not an African thing,but Government is sweet my brother.

abbasajao:
I don't understand, to involve political parties? What kind of oppositions do we have in Nigeria self. We are so unlucky with the ruling party and unlucky with oppositions too.

Image123:
Don't be small minded, the probe is not about Gbaja but about who and who are involved in all the mess.

Kingpele:
Atiku is right ,we need independent inquiry into these matter and others matters relating to corruption from 1999 till date ..maybe we will know how tinubu and Atiku etc . became super rich after their tenure in government...

Babangidapikin:
I am not small minded if Oga Gbaja name isn't out there the dragging won't be much. His office is like the engine room of the Government.

Dreal1247:
Atiku should not speak against corruption so that his hands don't get soiled. He that comes to equity must come with clean hands.

Image123:
Don't be small minded, the probe is not about Gbaja but about who and who are involved in all the mess. Maybe every possible culprit should resign from CBN to Federal Secretariat to Senate to House of Representatives to OSGF so that we can do investigation in your mind.

Image123:
So by someone simply name dropping him, he should stand still or resign or what?
If you have a video or audio or even documents out there that implicates him, I will understand. But just by someone mentioning that he is a criminal that is not enough in fact the same person says he has never met him and has never spoken directly with him. He doesn't even know if he was the one that he spoke with on the call, that is too light.

Babangidapikin:
I know resignation is not an African thing but he can go on Leave , because no matter the outcome of the investigation which is to be forwarded to Mr President it will end up been a two edge sword ... If it favours Oga Gbaja they would say he used Official powers to tilt the investigation, if it didn't favour him, it becomes a problem for Mr President's reputation.