PFIPC Scandal: Atiku Asks Tinubu To Name ‘Insiders’ As ICPC Admits Connivance

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has demanded that President Bola Tinubu disclose the identities of government officials allegedly involved in the fraud surrounding the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).

Atiku said the interim report of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on the matter raised more questions than it answered, particularly after the commission reportedly identified “negligence and connivance” within government processes that allegedly enabled the fraud.

In a statement issued on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the Presidency could not present the ICPC report as an exoneration when the findings reportedly pointed to failures by public officers.

According to the statement, the ICPC findings indicated that an individual allegedly forged a presidential appointment letter, created a fictitious federal agency, appropriated offices and instruments belonging to the former Presidential Economic Advisory Council, and opened bank accounts using forged legislative instruments.

The individual was also accused of widespread impersonation and creating two additional fictitious government agencies.

Atiku questioned how such activities could have occurred within government structures if there was no involvement or negligence by public officials.

“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?” he asked.

The former vice president said the ICPC’s reported recommendation for sanctions against public officers whose negligence allegedly facilitated the operation undermined any attempt to portray the scandal as the work of a lone impostor.

“A fake agency does not walk into government offices by itself. A forged appointment letter does not validate itself. Bank accounts do not open themselves. Behind every door that opened, every process that was bypassed and every official instrument that was accessed was a human being. Name them,” Atiku said.

He argued that the identities and roles of alleged insiders must be made public, insisting that Nigerians deserved to know how the fraud was facilitated.

“What the ICPC Interim Report has done, in the main, is to shield the identities of shadow operatives within the presidency who allegedly connived to enable the fraud. Their identities should be made public and their roles fully explained. Nigerians deserve to know who did what, who authorised what, and who opened the doors that made this possible,” he said.

Atiku maintained that the interim nature of the ICPC report could not be used to declare the Presidency innocent while investigations into possible collaborators and associated bank accounts were still ongoing.

He also renewed his call for an independent panel of inquiry to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the matter.

The ADC presidential candidate said the government’s commitment to transparency would be tested by the reported willingness of the central figure in the controversy, Mr Adeyemi, to appear before the National Assembly and testify during a proceeding broadcast live on television.

“The Presidency now has nowhere left to hide. If Mr. Adeyemi is prepared to appear publicly, testify under oath, and answer questions before Nigerians, then let him be heard. The National Assembly should immediately institute an open, live-broadcast public hearing into this scandal,” Atiku said.

He urged the Presidency not to interfere with any investigation or shield individuals connected to the matter.

“The Presidency must not attempt to block, gag, or shield anyone connected to this matter. 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. What is the presidency afraid of?” he asked.

Atiku warned that anything short of a transparent public hearing could further fuel suspicions that powerful individuals were being protected.

“You cannot admit negligence and connivance within government and simultaneously pronounce the system spotless. That is like washing charcoal and expecting white water,” he said.

He also demanded the publication of the full ICPC report and the identities of every public official found culpable.

According to him, only an independent and transparent inquiry could address concerns over whether politically exposed persons or officials within the Presidency were being shielded.

“Transparency cannot stop where the trail enters the corridors of power. The presidency cannot investigate itself into innocence,” Atiku said.

He called for the investigation to be opened to the public, with witnesses placed under oath and proceedings broadcast live.

“Open the investigation. Put the witnesses under oath. Switch on the cameras. Let Nigerians hear the truth for themselves.

“The question remains: Who inside the Villa opened the door?” he asked.