Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has called on President Bola Tinubu to disclose the identities of government officials allegedly involved in the controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council.
Atiku said the interim report of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission did not clear the Presidency of responsibility over the scandal.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the report’s references to negligence and alleged connivance within government processes raised questions about how an alleged impostor gained access to government facilities and official instruments.
He questioned how the individual was able to operate within government circles, obtain recognition as a supposed director-general and establish bank accounts in the names of fictitious government agencies.
Atiku asked the Presidency to identify officials who may have enabled the alleged activities.
He said, “If there was connivance, who connived? If public officers were negligent, who are they? Who granted access to government offices? Who recognised this supposed director-general? Who enabled him to operate within the machinery of government?”
According to Atiku, the reported findings made it difficult to portray the controversy as the work of an isolated fraudster.
The alleged scheme involving the self-styled director of the disputed agency, Adeniyi Adeyemi, included the alleged forgery of a presidential appointment letter, creation of a fictitious federal agency, use of offices and official instruments previously associated with the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, and opening of bank accounts with purportedly forged legislative documents.
President Tinubu had on July 7 directed the ICPC to conduct a 30-day investigation into the controversy.
The President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, who was mentioned in connection with the allegations, appeared before the ICPC on July 20 to provide information. He has also filed a N15bn defamation suit against Adeyemi.
Adeyemi is facing an eight-count criminal charge at the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged conspiracy, forgery and impersonation. He was reportedly rearrested in July after allegedly breaching his bail conditions and failing to appear for arraignment.
The House of Representatives has also commenced an investigation into how the alleged fictitious agency obtained a N1.3bn allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
Atiku maintained that the alleged activities could not have occurred without failures or assistance from people within the government system.
He argued that the identities of public officers whose alleged negligence facilitated the activities should be disclosed and their respective roles explained.
The former Vice President further called for an independent panel of inquiry to investigate the matter comprehensively.
He also urged the National Assembly to organise a public hearing on the controversy and broadcast the proceedings live, arguing that such a process would allow witnesses to testify openly and under oath.
Atiku said the Presidency should not shield anyone connected to the matter, insisting that Nigerians deserved transparency regarding how the alleged fraud was facilitated.
He warned that anything short of an open investigation could further fuel suspicions that influential individuals were being protected.
