Atiku Gives Tinubu Seven-Day Ultimatum Over PFIPC Scandal, Demands Independent Probe

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has given President Bola Tinubu a seven-day ultimatum to order what he described as a transparent, comprehensive and independent investigation into the controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).

Speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the allegations had grown beyond claims of forgery into a matter that threatens public confidence in government institutions. He argued that many Nigerians seeking appointments in the public sector may have been victims of an alleged scheme that appeared to enjoy official protection.

The former vice president questioned the Presidency’s explanation of the scandal, saying the response issued by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga left more questions than answers. He wondered how one individual could allegedly establish an office, secure space within a government facility, hold meetings with foreign embassy officials, visit the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and process staff salaries through official channels without the knowledge or involvement of government officials.

“If the government wants Nigerians to believe that one man single-handedly created an office for himself, secured office space within a government facility, held meetings with foreign embassy delegations, paid courtesy visits to the EFCC, processed staff salaries through official channels, allegedly operated institutional accounts, and carried on all these activities without the knowledge, approval, negligence or collaboration of anyone within government, then that narrative raises even more troubling questions than it answers,” Atiku said.

While maintaining that Adeniyi Adeyemi, the man at the centre of the controversy, should face prosecution if found guilty of fraud, Atiku insisted that the larger issue concerns the government systems that allegedly allowed such an operation to function. He argued that institutional failures, rather than the actions of one individual alone, should be at the heart of any investigation.

The ADC leader also pointed to reports that the PFIPC was included in the 2026 Appropriation Act with a budget reportedly running into billions of naira. He further cited claims that the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation allegedly approved the recruitment of more than 300 personnel into the agency, saying such processes involve several government institutions and could not have occurred without official oversight.

Drawing from the words of Chinua Achebe, Atiku said a government cannot place the entire blame on one individual while ignoring the institutional mechanisms that allegedly enabled the operation. He added that recent denials by Adeyemi, who claims influential figures are attempting to silence him, make an independent inquiry even more necessary.

Atiku said only a credible investigation—not official statements—can establish the full facts behind the scandal. He warned that if President Tinubu fails to order an independent probe within seven days, it would strengthen public suspicion that influential figures within government may have benefited from the alleged fraud.