The African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Friday called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately establish an independent Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), warning that failure to do so could further erode public confidence in the administration.
The opposition party said the Presidency's handling of the controversy had raised more questions than answers, insisting that only a transparent and independent investigation could determine the true status and activities of the PFIPC.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC accused the Presidency of focusing on defending officials instead of addressing the substantive allegations surrounding the council.
The party argued that if the Presidency's position that the PFIPC was not a recognised government agency was accurate, it would point to what it described as a serious institutional failure within government.
According to the ADC, it was inconceivable that an organisation allegedly lacking legal status could have secured budgetary allocations, official correspondence, diplomatic engagements, recruitment approvals and interactions with several government institutions without the knowledge or approval of senior government officials.
The party also criticised a July 1 statement issued by the President's Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, saying it failed to adequately address the key issues raised over the PFIPC controversy.
It called for a comprehensive investigation into the activities of the council and urged investigators to scrutinise the roles of several senior government officials and institutions, including the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Esther Walson-Jack; the Director-General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Office of the National Security Adviser; the Department of State Services; 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 also demanded an investigation into the role of Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi over his alleged involvement in the establishment and operations of the PFIPC, including claims of payments to senior government officials.
The party maintained that only an independent Judicial Commission of Inquiry, vested with powers to summon witnesses, compel the production of official documents and determine criminal liability where necessary, could restore public confidence in government institutions.
It argued that if the PFIPC was indeed a fictitious organisation as claimed by the Presidency, Nigerians deserved a full explanation of how it allegedly obtained recruitment approvals, budgetary allocations, diplomatic recognition and official engagements across multiple government agencies.
Conversely, the ADC said if the council was a legitimate government entity, the Presidency should explain why it was now disowning it while defending officials linked to the controversy.
The opposition party further accused the Tinubu administration of applying double standards in the fight against corruption, alleging that anti-graft agencies had acted swiftly in investigating former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai over separate allegations while no similar action had been taken regarding the PFIPC controversy.
The ADC warned that failure by President Tinubu to constitute an independent judicial panel would reinforce public perception that the administration was unwilling to investigate allegations involving powerful government officials.
It also vowed that if elected into office in 2027, an ADC-led administration would review all approvals, budgetary allocations, official correspondence and financial transactions associated with the PFIPC.
The Presidency has consistently denied any wrongdoing and maintained that the PFIPC is not a recognised government agency.
However, the controversy has continued to generate public debate, with opposition parties and civil society organisations calling for a transparent investigation into the allegations.
