The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called for an independent judicial inquiry into the controversy surrounding the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
The party urged President Bola Tinubu to immediately establish a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to unravel the circumstances behind the scandal.
In a statement on Friday, by the ADC spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party said the allegations surrounding the PFIPC and claims of bribery involving the President’s Chief of Staff, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, raised fundamental questions about governance, institutional integrity and national security.
The party said it had reviewed the Presidency’s July 1 response to the controversy and argued that, rather than clarifying the issues, the government’s explanation had raised even more questions about the operation of the alleged organisation.
According to the ADC, “the issues involved point directly at the heart of national governance and raise fundamental questions about institutional integrity and must therefore be treated with the seriousness it deserves.”
The party further alleged that the Presidency’s account suggested that a body it now described as “fictitious” had operated across several government institutions, interacted with ministries, foreign diplomats and public agencies, and allegedly secured official approvals and budgetary allocations.
It argued that such claims, if true, exposed serious lapses in governance and security.
“If indeed the PFIPC was a fictitious organisation, then Nigerians deserve to know how a fictitious organisation allegedly secured recruitment approvals, budgetary allocations, official correspondence, diplomatic engagements, interactions with federal institutions, and recognition across multiple arms of government,” the ADC stated.
The opposition party identified 10 individuals and institutions it said should be investigated as part of an independent inquiry.
Among those listed were the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, over allegations of receiving bribes and the issuance of documents linked to the PFIPC; Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, over his alleged role in establishing and promoting the organisation; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack; and the Director-General of the Budget Office, Mr. Tanimu Yakubu.
Others named include the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Central Bank of Nigeria, and relevant committees of the National Assembly.
The ADC said the proposed judicial panel should possess powers to summon witnesses, compel the production of documents and determine whether any public officials engaged in negligence, abuse of office, collusion or other criminal conduct.
“This matter must not be swept under the presidential red carpet,” the party declared, insisting that only an independent inquiry could restore public confidence in government institutions.
The party also accused the Tinubu administration of applying different standards of accountability, noting that security agencies had swiftly investigated allegations against former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, while no similar action had been taken against the President’s Chief of Staff.
According to the statement, “This glaring double standard undermines public confidence and reinforces the perception that there is one standard of accountability for political opponents, and another for those within the inner circle of power.”
The ADC warned that failure by the Federal Government to launch an independent investigation would reinforce public perceptions that the administration was unwilling to confront allegations involving senior officials.
It also vowed to make the PFIPC controversy a major accountability issue should it assume power in the future.
“There will be no sacred cows, no untouchables, and no hiding place for corruption,” the party said, adding that every approval, financial transaction and public official connected with the affair would face scrutiny under an ADC-led administration.
