ADC says only judicial panel can investigate PFIPC scandal

The African Democratic Congress has rejected President Bola Tinubu's order for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to investigate the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council scandal. They say only an independent judicial panel can carry out a trustworthy investigation.

The party shared its view in a statement on Wednesday from its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi.

ADC said while they appreciate the President's call for an investigation, giving the ICPC the job could shake public trust in the process.

"We insist, however, that only an independent judicial panel will be able to provide answers beyond all reasonable doubt to the many questions that this historic scandal has thrown up," the statement said.

Reports from PUNCH Online say the PFIPC caused a national uproar after it was listed as a beneficiary in the 2026 Appropriation Act. This happened even though the Presidency insisted that no such agency exists under the Federal Government.

The drama heightened when Adeniyi Adeyemi, claiming to be the Director-General of the council, accused Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to the President, of corruption.

But the presidency dismissed Adeyemi, calling him a fraud and said he is facing prosecution. Adeyemi responded, claiming he has valid documents.

As public anger grew, Tinubu directed the ICPC on Tuesday to look into how the council ended up in the 2026 Appropriation Act, considering it is not recognized by the Federal Government.

The President also ordered that anyone found guilty of the alleged budget insertion should be named and punished according to the law. He instructed relevant authorities to find out how this controversial allocation happened.

In a statement from his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu asked the anti-corruption agency to deliver its findings within 30 days.

In response, ADC reiterated its call for an independent inquiry and said the investigation should not focus on just one person's actions.

The party believes the Presidency's initial response tried to downplay the allegations but has now acknowledged the need for an investigation.

However, they argued that the Presidency, being part of the controversy, cannot be trusted to oversee the investigation.

"A Presidency that is at the very heart of a historic scandal such as this does not have the credibility to authorize an investigation into a matter that has brought an entire country into disrepute," ADC said.

The opposition party accused the Presidency of already deciding the outcome of the investigation by labeling appointment letters and other related documents as fake before the probe even started.

"The investigation must be allowed to independently determine whether the documents were forged, improperly issued, fraudulently obtained, or lawfully issued under the authority of the Presidency. The credibility of the entire exercise depends on allowing investigators to follow the evidence wherever it leads, rather than predetermining the outcome through official pronouncements," the statement said.

ADC also urged the President to ask his Chief of Staff to take a leave if the investigation will look into the conduct of officials linked to the Presidency.

"As long as he remains an active official of government, it creates the impression that the President is deliberately shielding a key party in this matter," the statement said.

The party demanded that the complete, unedited report of the investigation be made public once finished. They argued that simply announcing the findings or punishing a few officials will not meet public calls for accountability.

ADC condemned the reported arrest of Adeyemi Adeniyi's father, calling it an act of intimidation.

"The ADC condemns the reported arrest of the father of Mr. Adeyemi Adeniyi. This act of intimidation only strengthens the impression that the government is panicking and is desperate to hide the truth rather than uncover it.

"If indeed a crime has been committed, only the suspect can be legally arrested. It is an established fact that Nigerian law does not have provision for vicarious liability," the statement added.

The party said it will keep an eye on developments, describing the PFIPC issue as a national security matter that should not be ignored.