The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Atiku Abubakar, has accused the Presidency of attempting to clear itself over the alleged fake Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, PFIPC, scandal.
Atiku said the interim report of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, could not be used by the Presidency as proof that it was innocent of wrongdoing.
The former Vice President argued that the report itself raised serious questions about how an alleged fake government agency was able to operate within government offices and gain access to official processes.
Atiku made his position known in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu.
The former Vice President said the ICPC report identified cases of negligence and alleged connivance by public officers whose actions or failure to act allegedly allowed the fake agency to operate.
According to him, the controversy went beyond the activities of one alleged impostor because the suspect was accused of forging a presidential appointment letter, creating a fictitious federal agency, using government offices and opening bank accounts with forged legislative documents.
He questioned how an individual could carry out such activities without the knowledge or assistance of some government officials.
“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?” Atiku asked.
The ADC candidate said reports that sanctions had been recommended against public officers whose negligence allegedly facilitated the activities further showed that the matter could not be dismissed as the work of a lone impostor.
He demanded that the identities of officials allegedly involved in the process be made public.
“Nigerians deserve to know who did what, who authorised what, and who opened the doors that made this possible,” Atiku said.
The controversy surrounding the alleged PFIPC has raised concerns about the security of government processes and the ability of individuals to falsely present themselves as officials of the Federal Government.
A major issue in the matter is how the alleged fake agency was able to present itself as a legitimate government body and operate within official circles.
Atiku said the public deserved a full explanation of how the alleged fraud was allowed to continue and whether officials knowingly or unknowingly assisted the suspect.
He also called for the full publication of the ICPC report, arguing that an interim document should not be treated as a final declaration of innocence.
According to him, investigations into possible collaborators and related bank accounts were still ongoing, making it inappropriate for the report to be presented as a final clearance for the Presidency.
Atiku said Nigerians needed access to the findings so they could understand what happened and who might have been responsible for allowing the alleged scheme to operate.
The former Vice President also called on the National Assembly to conduct an open investigation into the scandal.
He urged lawmakers to broadcast the proceedings live to allow Nigerians to follow the evidence and testimonies presented during the investigation.
His demand, he said, had become more important following reports that the central figure in the controversy, identified as Mr Adeyemi, had offered to appear before lawmakers and testify publicly.
“If the Villa is truly clean, it should be the first to welcome live television coverage. Let Nigerians watch, unedited, as the witnesses testify, and the evidence is presented under oath,” Atiku said.
The call for a public hearing adds a political dimension to the controversy, coming from one of the leading opposition figures and a former Vice President.
Atiku has continued to criticise the Tinubu administration over issues relating to governance, accountability and the management of public institutions.
His latest demand is also coming at a time when the Federal Government has faced increasing calls for greater transparency in the handling of public funds and government affairs.
The ICPC, as an anti-corruption agency, is responsible for investigating corruption and related offences involving public institutions and officials. Its findings in the PFIPC matter have therefore attracted public interest because of the alleged involvement of government processes.
Atiku warned that anything short of a transparent investigation could deepen public suspicion that influential individuals were being protected.
“Transparency cannot stop where the trail enters the corridors of power. The Presidency cannot investigate itself into innocence,” he said.
He argued that the government should not only investigate the person accused of operating the alleged fake agency but also establish whether government officials were negligent, compromised or actively involved.
The former Vice President said the identities of officials who allegedly facilitated the activities should be disclosed and appropriate action taken if they were found to have violated the law.
He also insisted that witnesses should be allowed to testify under oath and that relevant documents and financial records should be examined publicly.
According to him, this would help Nigerians understand how the alleged fraud was carried out and prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
The controversy has also raised wider concerns about the procedures used to recognise government agencies and officials.
Federal ministries, departments and agencies operate under established laws and administrative procedures. Government appointments, agency creation and access to official offices are normally expected to pass through formal channels.
The allegation that a fictitious agency was able to gain recognition within government circles has therefore raised questions about the effectiveness of those checks.
Atiku said the government needed to provide clear answers to these questions rather than relying on an interim report to close the matter.
He maintained that the publication of the full ICPC report would help remove doubts and establish whether any officials were responsible for enabling the alleged activities.
The former Vice President urged the National Assembly to take up the matter and ensure that its investigation was conducted openly.
He said Nigerians should be allowed to hear the evidence directly and determine whether the government had adequately addressed the issues raised by the alleged scandal.
For Atiku, the central issue is not only the alleged activities of the suspect but the government officials and systems that may have allowed the operation to continue.
He urged the Presidency to support a transparent investigation rather than resist calls for public scrutiny.
The opposition politician said the government could only restore public confidence by making the process open, identifying those responsible and ensuring that anyone found culpable faced appropriate sanctions.
He further called on the authorities to allow Nigerians to see the evidence and hear from the key witnesses.
Atiku said such steps would demonstrate that the government was serious about accountability and that no individual, regardless of position or connection, would be protected if found to have facilitated wrongdoing.