PFIPC Scandal: Turaki- led PDP Urges Tinubu To Order Forensic Probe, Suspend Officials

The Kabiru Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to order a forensic investigation into the controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) and suspend all officials linked to the scandal.

In a statement issued on Sunday by the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the PDP described the controversy as “a damning revelation of the incompetence and negligence of the APC-led Federal Government.”

The faction said recent allegations made by Adeniyi Adeyemi, convener of the contentious council, against the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, and the Presidency’s response through Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, exposed “deep institutional failures within the Federal Government.”

According to the party, the allegations “have confirmed that the APC-led Federal Government is running the country with alarming recklessness, where nepotism and cronyism have displaced merit, and impunity has become standard practice.”

The PDP faction argued that the Presidency’s position on the controversy raised more questions than answers over how an alleged impostor could have secured office space in a government facility, been assigned staff, received budgetary allocations, operated Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)-registered accounts, and interacted with agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“From the appointment of deceased persons into government offices, to the inclusion of undeserving individuals on the presidential pardon list, the N800 billion Progressive Governors Forum scandal, and numerous other avoidable blunders, this administration has demonstrated a troubling pattern of institutional failure,” the statement said.

“If the Presidency’s account is correct, that Prince Adeyemi is an impostor, then it means the Federal Government is so porous and vulnerable.

“If, on the other hand, Prince Adeyemi’s account is accurate… then this is yet another act of shameless corruption added to a long and growing queue of unchallenged corrupt officials in this administration. Anyway this pendulum swings, the Nigerian people lose.”

The faction maintained that even if the Presidency’s explanation were accepted, it would still amount to “a monumental failure of the state” because an alleged impostor reportedly operated undetected at the highest levels of government.

It added that a responsible government would have immediately ordered an independent forensic investigation, suspended officials implicated in the matter, introduced reforms to prevent a recurrence, and apologised to Nigerians.

Instead, the party alleged that the Federal Government was attempting to downplay public concerns while hoping the controversy would fade.

“We therefore call on the President, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to immediately order a forensic investigation of this scandal by a reputable firm of international standing, announce the suspension of all key officials connected to the matter, order a comprehensive reorganisation of the Presidency, and issue an unreserved apology to Nigerians for this deeply embarrassing situation,” the statement said.

The PDP added that the Presidency owed Nigerians “more than explanations” and must demonstrate accountability, warning that failure to do so would further erode public trust and strengthen calls for a change of government in 2027.

LEADERSHIP recalls that the controversy surrounding the PFIPC began on June 11 when Gbajabiamila issued a public disclaimer distancing himself from the appointment of Adeniyi Adeyemi as head of the council.

Adeyemi subsequently challenged the disclaimer and urged President Tinubu to establish an independent panel to investigate the matter.

The dispute intensified on July 1 after the Presidency backed Gbajabiamila, accusing Adeyemi of forging an appointment letter and falsely presenting himself as a presidential appointee. The Nigeria Police Force has since filed an eight-count criminal charge against Adeyemi, according to presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga.

In response, Adeyemi alleged that the disagreement stemmed from his refusal to part with 48 per cent of the agency’s take-off grant. He also claimed to have paid N400 million to secure his appointment, with an outstanding balance of N200 million.

The controversy deepened after reports indicated that N1.3 billion was allocated to the council in the approved 2026 budget, while it allegedly maintained an account with the CBN through the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and operated from office space in the Federal Secretariat with approval to recruit 300 staff members.