The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has said the Presidency cannot rely on the interim report of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to absolve itself of the alleged fake Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) scandal.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku argued that the ICPC’s findings raised serious concerns about how the alleged fraudulent agency was able to operate within government institutions.
According to the former Vice President, the report reportedly pointed to negligence and possible connivance by public officials, making it difficult to dismiss the incident as the actions of a single individual.
He questioned how the suspect allegedly forged a presidential appointment letter, created a fake federal agency, gained access to government offices, and opened bank accounts using forged legislative documents without assistance from insiders.
“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.
He maintained that the recommendation to sanction public officials whose negligence allegedly enabled the scheme showed the matter extended beyond one impostor. He also demanded that the identities of all officials linked to the incident be made public.
“Nigerians deserve to know who did what, who authorised what, and who opened the doors that made this possible,” he said.
Atiku further called for the complete publication of the ICPC report, insisting that an interim report should not be treated as a final verdict while investigations into possible collaborators and related bank accounts remain ongoing.
He also urged the National Assembly to conduct a transparent public investigation into the matter and broadcast the proceedings live, especially following reports that the central figure in the controversy, Mr. Adeyemi, had expressed readiness to testify before lawmakers.
“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,” he stated.
The ADC presidential candidate warned that anything short of a transparent investigation could fuel public suspicion that influential individuals were being shielded.
“Transparency cannot stop where the trail enters the corridors of power. The Presidency cannot investigate itself into innocence,” Atiku said, urging the government to open the investigation to public scrutiny and allow Nigerians to hear the evidence firsthand.