The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected President Bola Tinubu’s directive to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) scandal, insisting that only an independent judicial panel can conduct a credible probe.
Naijaonpoint reports that the party made its position known in a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi.
According to the ADC, while it welcomed the President’s decision to order an investigation, assigning the probe to the ICPC, an agency under the Executive, could undermine public confidence 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 read.
The PFIPC controversy sparked nationwide outrage after the council appeared as one of the beneficiaries in the 2026 Appropriation Act despite the Presidency’s insistence that no such agency exists under the Federal Government.
The controversy worsened after Adeniyi Adeyemi, who presented himself as Director-General of the council, accused the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, of corruption.
The Presidency, however, disowned Adeyemi, describing him as a fraud facing prosecution. Adeyemi has denied the allegation, insisting that he possesses legitimate documents.
As public pressure mounted, Tinubu on Tuesday directed the ICPC to investigate how the council was inserted into the 2026 Appropriation Act despite not being recognised by the Federal Government.
The President also ordered that everyone found culpable in the alleged budget insertion be identified and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu directed the anti-graft agency to submit its findings within 30 days.
Reacting, the ADC said it had earlier called for an independent inquiry into the matter, arguing that the investigation should not be limited to the conduct of one individual.
The party said the Presidency’s initial response attempted to explain away the allegations but had now accepted that an investigation was necessary.
It, however, maintained that the Presidency lacked the credibility to supervise the process because it was at the centre of the controversy.
“A Presidency that is at the very heart of a historic scandal such as this does not have the credibility to authorise an investigation into a matter that has brought an entire country into disrepute,” the party said.
The ADC also accused the Presidency of prejudging the outcome of the investigation by describing appointment letters and other documents linked to the case as forged before the probe had commenced.
“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 added.
The opposition party further called on Tinubu to direct Gbajabiamila to proceed on leave if the investigation would examine the conduct of officials connected 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,” it said.
The party also demanded that the full, unredacted report of the investigation be made public upon completion.
It argued that merely announcing the outcome or sanctioning a few officials would not satisfy public demands for accountability.
The ADC also condemned the reported arrest of Adeyemi’s father, describing it as 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 would continue to monitor developments in the matter, describing the PFIPC controversy as a national security issue that must not be “swept under the Presidential red carpet.”
