Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed President Bola Tinubu’s directive to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), arguing that only a truly independent commission of inquiry can uncover the full truth behind the controversy.
Atiku’s position was contained in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, in which he described the President’s decision as a reluctant but significant response to the seven-day ultimatum he had earlier issued over the alleged scandal. According to Atiku, while the directive to the ICPC shows that public pressure may have forced the government to act, it still falls short of the level of transparency required in a matter with such serious implications for public trust.
The former vice president said the Tinubu administration should immediately establish a special independent commission of inquiry made up of representatives nominated by the Federal Government, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), civil society organisations, the Nigerian Bar Association, retired judicial officers and other eminent Nigerians. He argued that only a panel structured outside the direct control of the executive can conduct a credible investigation and reassure Nigerians that the outcome will not be manipulated.
Atiku said the proposed commission should be given a broad mandate to investigate every aspect of the PFIPC affair, review existing police findings, summon serving and former public officials where necessary, and publish a White Paper at the end of its work. He also insisted that the report should be submitted directly to Nigerians within one month without requiring approval from any arm of government.
In his words, anything less would create the impression that the government is merely trying to investigate itself behind closed doors rather than submit to independent scrutiny.
A key part of Atiku’s argument is that the President’s directive to the ICPC appears to contradict the Presidency’s earlier position that the matter had already been comprehensively investigated by the police, with suspects arrested, evidence recovered and criminal charges already filed before the Federal High Court. He argued that if the police investigation was indeed complete, there should be no need for a fresh probe. Conversely, if another investigation has become necessary, then it raises questions about whether the earlier inquiry was inadequate or whether important facts were left unresolved.
The former vice president also questioned the government’s previous attempt to portray the alleged PFIPC as merely the handiwork of a lone imposter. According to him, the more serious issue is how an organisation the Presidency insists never existed allegedly managed to acquire office accommodation, interact with government institutions, seek diplomatic recognition, conduct recruitment exercises, operate multiple bank accounts and project the authority of government over an extended period. For Atiku, those claims point to a wider institutional failure or possible complicity that cannot be explained away by simply blaming one suspect.
He further criticised the 30-day timeline reportedly given to the ICPC, saying Nigerians deserve quicker answers if the government truly wants transparency. Atiku argued that the controversy has already generated enough public concern to justify a faster and more independent process, especially because the scandal touches on questions of official credibility, abuse of public trust and possible exploitation of desperate job seekers or members of the public who may have believed the PFIPC was a legitimate government body.
The PFIPC controversy has become a fresh flashpoint in the increasingly tense political environment ahead of 2027, with opposition figures using the issue to challenge the Tinubu administration’s credibility and commitment to accountability. By rejecting the ICPC route and demanding an independent inquiry with opposition and civil society representation, Atiku is attempting to frame the matter not just as a criminal investigation but as a test of whether the Federal Government is willing to subject itself to open and impartial scrutiny.
For now, the dispute leaves the Tinubu administration facing pressure from critics who argue that the government cannot credibly investigate a scandal that may raise questions about its own institutions. Whether the President sticks with the ICPC process or broadens the inquiry in line with Atiku’s demand may shape how Nigerians judge the seriousness of the government’s anti-corruption and accountability posture in the weeks ahead.