Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Timi Frank, has called for a comprehensive forensic investigation into the death of Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola, whom he described as a key intermediary in the alleged appointment and bribery scandal involving the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, PFIPC
Frank made the call in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja while reacting to the Presidency’s response to allegations surrounding the activities of the PFIPC and its alleged Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi.
He said the circumstances surrounding Tanimola’s death must be thoroughly investigated, arguing that the deceased could have provided crucial information capable of shedding light on the controversy currently surrounding the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
According to Frank, Nigerians, especially the late Tanimola’s family, deserve to know the true cause of his death and whether there were any circumstances linked to the ongoing scandal.
The Presidency, through Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, had earlier dismissed allegations linking the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, to the activities of the PFIPC. In the statement, the Presidency also said police authorities confirmed that Tanimola died in a hotel in Abuja five days before the arrest of Adeniyi Adeyemi.
However, Frank maintained that the explanation raised more questions than answers.
He described Tanimola as the principal intermediary between Adeyemi and senior government officials, insisting that a forensic investigation was necessary to determine the actual circumstances surrounding his death.
The political activist also called on the international community, including the United States, the European Union and other technologically advanced nations, to assist Nigeria in uncovering what he described as the truth behind the alleged appointment and bribery scandal.
Frank argued that it would have been impossible for an ordinary citizen to operate an organisation that allegedly enjoyed government patronage without support from influential figures within government.
He questioned how an agency reportedly described by government as non-existent could allegedly secure office space within the Federal Secretariat, receive budgetary allocations, participate in official functions, host foreign diplomats, interact with senior government officials and maintain a visible presence in government circles.
According to him, key institutions, including the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Budget Office, the National Assembly and relevant security agencies, should be providing answers to the numerous questions arising from the controversy.
Frank also referred to reports claiming that the alleged PFIPC Director-General was provided with six police escorts, official vehicles and an official residence despite questions over the legal status of the organisation.
