By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called for an independent forensic investigation into the alleged activities of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), describing the controversy as another example of unresolved corruption allegations under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja, The Atiku Media Office said the Federal Government should not dismiss the matter as an internal issue but should subject it to a transparent public investigation.
The statement followed a disclaimer by Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, who described Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew and the PFIPC as fraudulent and denied that the council was an official government agency.
Questioning the circumstances surrounding the alleged operation of the organisation, Atiku asked how an individual could allegedly establish and operate what it described as a “ghost” federal agency within the Federal Secretariat without detection.
It also queried reports that the organisation allegedly obtained a budget code and a N1.3 billion allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Act, calling for authorities to explain how such approvals were secured.
“How did an unknown state actor manage to create and reside a federal government agency in the Federal Secretariat, which is under the supervision of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, without being detected?
“How did he secure a budgetary code and allocation of N1.3 billion in the 2026 national budget?” he questioned.
According to the statement, Prince Adeyemi had publicly interacted with several senior government officials, including the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olanipekun Olukoyede, diplomats, traditional rulers and prospective investors.
The Atiku Media Office argued that those engagements raised questions about the government’s assertion that the PFIPC was a non-existent agency.
It further claimed that there was evidence suggesting that both chambers of the National Assembly had official correspondence with the organisation, a development it said warranted further investigation.
The statement also called on the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and other public officials allegedly linked to the controversy to publicly account for their roles rather than relying solely on official statements.
The media office said the Presidency had yet to address allegations that Prince Adeyemi claimed to have paid a N400 million bribe to the Chief of Staff, insisting that the matter required a full public investigation.
“The Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and others alleged to be involved in this scandal cannot excuse themselves with a mere press statement. Public servants and political leaders must be accountable for their stewardship. We demand a forensic public probe. No amount of government-speak or scented propaganda can clear this mess.
“By the way, the presidency’s disclaimer did not clear the air on the N400 million bribe Prince Adeyemi allegedly claimed he gave to Gbajabiamila.
“There’s the mysterious death of Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola, who served as the alleged intermediary and go-between for Adeyemi in the bribery and appointment scandal involving the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila. This is why a comprehensive probe into the #GbajabiamilaGate scandal is a necessity” he insisted.
The Atiku Media Office maintained that Nigerians deserved transparency and accountability from public officials and urged that all individuals connected to the allegations, whether in the executive or legislative arms of government, be investigated.
It further called for the matter to be conclusively resolved before the 2027 general elections to preserve public confidence in democratic institutions and prevent voter apathy.
PFIPC: Presidency has questions to answer – Atiku, demands independent probe
