Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called for the inclusion of the ADC, PDP, and NDC in the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission's investigation into the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC). He described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's directive for the ICPC to investigate the matter as a reluctant but significant shift following the seven-day ultimatum he issued for a transparent probe. Atiku's statement, issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, questioned the necessity of a new investigation if the Police had already completed a thorough one in October 2025.
According to Atiku, the Presidency previously claimed the Police investigation had led to the arrest of the suspect, recovery of documentary exhibits, tracing of bank accounts, and filing of charges at the Federal High Court. He argued that if these claims are true, the ICPC's 30-day probe is redundant; if not, the earlier investigation was insufficient. He pointed out that the President's instruction for the ICPC to examine the "wider circumstances" contradicts the initial narrative that the case involved only an individual impostor.
Atiku highlighted that the alleged PFIPC reportedly operated office spaces, interacted with government institutions, sought diplomatic recognition, conducted recruitment, and ran multiple bank accounts. He said such activities imply institutional complicity, as bureaucracies do not unknowingly sustain official-looking operations. He also noted the recent arrest of the suspect's father, which raises questions about the timeline given the earlier claim that the investigation was already complete.
Atiku stressed that Nigerians demanded an independent probe, not another government-led process, given that public institutions are central to the controversy. He questioned the President's commitment to transparency, citing the appointment of a senior Presidency official—publicly linked to the PFIPC matter—as Chairman of the state police implementation committee.
Atiku highlights a contradiction in the Presidency's position: claiming a full police investigation while ordering a new ICPC probe into the same matter. If the first probe was complete, the second is unnecessary; if necessary, the first was inadequate. This inconsistency undermines public trust in the official timeline and process. The appointment of a figure linked to the controversy to a sensitive security role deepens the perception of compromised oversight.
Editorial note: AI-assisted opinion, not established fact. Full disclaimer →
