₦airaland Forum

PFIPC Scandal Widens As Atiku Queries ₦6.44bn World Cup Budget


Former Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has renewed his call for an independent investigation into the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) scandal, alleging attempts by the Bola Tinubu administration to divert attention from key issues and shield those who should be held accountable.

Atiku, in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, described the recent arrest of the self-styled Director-General of the PFIPC, Adeniyi Adeyemi, as insufficient to resolve the controversy, insisting that the investigation must go beyond the actions of one individual.

According to Atiku, the central question is how an organisation the Presidency has reportedly described as non-existent allegedly operated within the highest levels of government, secured diplomatic recognition, recruited hundreds of personnel, obtained office accommodation at the Federal Secretariat and was reportedly captured in the national budget.

“The scandal is not merely that one man allegedly impersonated public authority. The greater question is how such an organisation allegedly gained access to government institutions and operated with apparent official recognition,” he said.

The former Vice President also linked the PFIPC controversy to what he described as questionable provisions in the 2026 Appropriation Act, drawing attention to an allocation of ₦6.44 billion for a “Special Presidential Support Group for the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.”

He questioned why such a provision appeared in the budget despite Nigeria’s elimination from the qualification race months before the budget was presented.

“How does a government budget ₦6.44 billion for World Cup qualifiers after Nigeria had already been eliminated? Who inserted the provision, who approved it, and what was the intended purpose of the allocation?” Atiku queried.

He argued that the budgetary provision raises broader concerns about transparency, fiscal discipline and the integrity of the federal budgeting process.

The statement also referenced allegations made by Adeyemi, including claims that he paid about ₦400 million in bribes to secure his position and mentioned senior government officials. Atiku stressed that the allegations remain unproven and should be subjected to an independent, transparent, and impartial investigation.

According to him, the PFIPC controversy has become a major test of accountability and should not be treated as an isolated incident or resolved through what he described as a controlled internal process.

Atiku expressed reservations about the Federal Government’s decision to have the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) investigate the matter, arguing that a probe conducted by agencies under the executive may not inspire public confidence.

He maintained that an independent investigation was necessary because the allegations touch on individuals within the administration.

The former Vice President also raised concerns over what he described as attempts to influence public perception of the controversy while legal proceedings relating to aspects of the matter are ongoing.

He called on the National Assembly to constitute a bipartisan panel to investigate every aspect of the PFIPC controversy and appealed to the Nigerian Bar Association, civil society organisations, the diplomatic community and other stakeholders to support a transparent process.

“Nigerians deserve to know who authorised the PFIPC, how it allegedly gained access to government institutions, who facilitated its operations and whether public funds were allocated to it. The country deserves a credible investigation that establishes the facts and strengthens public confidence in governance,” Atiku said.

https://independent.ng/pfipc-scandal-widens-as-atiku-queries-%E2%82%A66-44bn-world-cup-budget/

In the history of this country, no government has been this blatantly corrupt.
How did 6.4 billion naira find it's way into a budget for a world cup Nigeria didn't even qualify for? What defense does Bayo Onanuga have for this besides lying shamelessly?

When one British prime minister said Nigeria is a fantastically corrupt country, many people thought he was joking

₦6.44 billion?!!!

Abacha learnt from tinubu

Nigerians keeps quiet over everything and expected things to miraculously go right.
It is impossible.

How we lay our bed, so shall we lye on it.

When sane Nigerians say the epitome of corruption and sleaze now occupies aso rock, they think it is just politics.

Like I have repeatedly said, all budgets presented by bat needs to be revisited.

El rufia said N100b was stolen every month by you know who. Since then, they have made sure he remains relatively incommunicado.

Bat may just be Corruption personified...

Just imagine!!!
The world cup we didn't qualify for oo.
If we had qualified it would have been trillion of naira..

This APC administration is the most corrupt in history.

Once them wan loot, they’ll name it Presidential Support whatever.

Anything presidential is automatically, lootocracy.

This administration must be probed after it leaves.

Nothing we cannot see in Tinubu's government, is Nigeria a world cup co-host country? God ooooooo!!!

All parties involved should be distanced from government till investigation, persecution and death by hanging is executed .

This includes everyone, the president also if involved .

The corruption in this administration is just too much and unheard of and unthinkable .

Yahoo boys in helms of affairs

Shame

Few years ago we were shouting because one grasscutter cut grass with #400m not knowing that he was a learner, today we are witnessing the real and highest level of corruption in this country and they seem to have already- made lies /cover up for all the scandals

writetopoka:
Nigerians keeps quiet over everything and expected things to miraculously go right.
It is impossible.

How we lay our bed, so shall we lye on it.

Not Nigerians. These people- Helinues, Richtaiwo, Madridguy, Yarimo etc. As they lay their beds, so shall they lie on them. The corruption they support will one day haunt them and nobody will hear their cries.

U wan take Nigerias current crop of politicians take play .


These people are wicked

Bola Tinubu and his gang of thieves and terrorists.

harsysky:
Not Nigerians. These people- Helinues, Richtaiwo, Madridguy, Yarimo etc. As they lay their beds, so shall they lie on them. The corruption they support will one day haunt them and nobody will hear their cries.

Shameless cheap propagandists. These are products of Rotimi Amaechi's fairly used laptops.

Honestly, I'm tired
Kilode gaan
Before you finish reading one corruption update about this administration, another one pops up on your screen!
It's so hard to keep pace with the looting going on in this govt
It seems they are struggling to outdo one another on this corruption thing
And these are the folks that called Jonathan's govt corrupt

And Lithiumite will mount keypad to defend these people after a meal of rotten shawa?!!

I don't understand, I thought we didn't qualify?

I trust Mr.Bayo, he's going to prepare an explanation that SURPRISINGLY will make sense to some set of people... You go come dey wonder who lie pass between Mr.Bayo and "Lie" Mohammed

How Would You Justify The Following Extravagant Spendings Under Tinubu's Government:

1. 21 Billion Naira To Renovate The Vice President House. No like they bought new kidneys or anything...for a house already functional. Done with public funds.

2. 70 Billion Naira To The National Assembly Members To Buy SUVs At The Cost 160 Million Naira Per One For Senators And House Of Representatives Members Specifically. To buy silence is every expensive.

3. 4 Billion Naira To Renovate Dodan Barrack Lagos Another 3 Billion Naira To Renovate Aguda House

4. 5 Billion Naira Was Given To Presidential Tax Reforms Committee Of Less Than Twenty People Headed By Taiwo Oyedele With Nothing To Show For It

6. 1.5 Billion Naira To Purchase Cars For Your Wife Senator Oluremi Tinubu Despite The Fact That First Lady Office Is Not Recognised By Our Constitution. Public funds they will later come around and claim they donated.

7. 300% Salary Increase For The Judges Which Was Speedily Passed By The Insensitive And Irresponsible Senators. The law has been bought.

8. 5 Billion Naira Was Budgeted For Presidential Fleet Of Cars For President Bola Ahmad Tinubu. I mean for someone who already has over 40 cars following him already.

9. 5 Billion equally budgeted for Presidential Yatch. The commonwealth is now a personal wealth.

10. 225 Billion naira spent on so-called Presidential Jet Festus Keyamo compensated.

11. 90 Billion naira spent on 2024 Hajj pilgrimage . Religion is a personal business. This is extravagant and irrelevant.

12. Billions of Naira Was Budgeted For Trips Including The Vice President Kashim Shettima To The Detriment Of The Citizens

13. Every Senator Is Paid 21 Million Naira Monthly

14. House Of Representatives Are Earning 13.5 Million Monthly All The Increment Was Done By Tinubu's Government

15. 15 Trillion Naira Lagos Calabar Coastal Road Was Awarded Illegally To Tinubu's Friend A Lebanese Gilbert Chagoury Who Was Repatriated Back To His Country By The Former President Obasanjo. I mean "awarded." No bids.

16. Billions lavished to lobbyist to romance against the Christian genocide.

17. How about the crazy number of ministers doing nothing?

18. N36Billion used shamelessly to Repaint the International Conference Centre...

Nigeria is a rich country. But ruled by the worst.

Argue with yourself.

Dogalmighty17:
In the history of this country, no government has been this blatantly corrupt.
How did 6.4 billion naira find it's way into a budget for a world cup Nigeria didn't even qualify for? What defense does Bayo Onanuga have for this besides lying shamelessly?

Why won't they be?!! When they are presiding over divided and low thinking citizens who only get angry when their tribes and religions are insulted.


Corruption thrives because citizens permit or indulge it.

Please, they should look into this and if it's true, then all past budgets needs to be scrutinized because this cant be approved by representatives of people from every zone of the country. Its another national embarrassment to our national institutions and image.

Dogalmighty17:
In the history of this country, no government has been this blatantly corrupt.
How did 6.4 billion naira find it's way into a budget for a world cup Nigeria didn't even qualify for? What defense does Bayo Onanuga have for this besides lying shamelessly?

Nigeria is a CABALOCRACY. Gov of, and for the CABALS. But Atiku should sharap before we dig up SIEMENSGATE. ALL OF UNA NA THE SAME.
TUAH!!(Spits)

Thank God this case is now in court, this case is very important to Nigerians,the proceedings should be made live for every Nigerians to watch.

Of course, it's all perfectly fine. a simple, straightforward assessment of the situation. Nothing to worry about, really. Absolutely nothing to scrutinize.

Atiku on fire...

Naptu2 omenka ngeneukwuenu Legendhero Richtaiwo Flangelo12 HacheNoire DomPerignon MagicBishop iamfraud Parachoko UncleAyo madridguy FreeStuffsNG FSBoperator Richtaiwo Flangelo12 HacheNoire Yarimo WizardOfNG CharlesCNG aswani lawani seunmsg Legendhero


All of the above don quiet...

I love this Atiku.

Anybody BUT TINUBU

harsysky:
Not Nigerians. These people- Helinues, Richtaiwo, Madridguy, Yarimo etc. As they lay their beds, so shall they lie on them. The corruption they support will one day haunt them and nobody will hear their cries.

This guys you mentioned are insignificant

Aside nairaland, who know this hungry birds?

Na una dey make them relevant.Tinubu and his entourage will splash dem water when dey drive pass them

Their own na just to do cho cho cho for nairaland

Make thunder fire anybody wey go quote that bot Jayhome24 on this thread.
Sometimes u gats let dem zuzu.
Let nobody quote him please, he is offside.
I believe if we start ignoring them, they will change to new usernames because attention is their fuel but I knowsay Obidients no dey ever hear word, then no sabi let things slide.
We knowsay that guy get lying diarrhea of the mouth, just jump and pass please

₦6.44 billion for a “Special Presidential Support Group for the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.” yet we fail to qualify and the budget presented n approved after matter don cast....
Na wa oo...

Seems this 2026 budget full of "padded" items ooo

Sheuns:
Once them wan loot, they’ll name it Presidential Support whatever.

Anything presidential is automatically, lootocracy.

This administration must be probed after it leaves.

This is why I haev said it that I wont pay any income tax or do any patriotic work until Nigeria govt begin to take corruption seriously. I know how much the govt makes from me via VAT each time I earn income, yet I drive on a very useless roads.
I want a president who wil probe all past leaders, Buhari and his boys, Obasanjo and his boys, GEJ and His boys, Tinubu and his boys. Guy, these men are so living the best life while doing nothing but expect me to work my ass out and pay them. We are too nice here, these things cant happen in ordinary SA, the citizens wont let it slide.