Explosive Scandal: ADC Rejects Official Probe, Demands Independent Judicial Panel into PFIPC

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has vociferously rejected President Bola Tinubu’s directive to assign the investigation into the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) scandal to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The opposition party firmly insists that only an independent judicial panel, comprised of respected Nigerian citizens, possesses the necessary impartiality to guarantee a credible, transparent, and publicly trusted investigation.

In a statement released on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC articulated its concerns, arguing that the Presidency, being a central subject in the scandal, inherently lacks the moral and institutional credibility to supervise a probe into the matter. While acknowledging President Tinubu’s initiative to investigate, the party expressed profound apprehension that entrusting the exercise to the ICPC—an agency operating under the Executive arm of government—could lead to undue influence and compromise from within government circles. The ADC stated that such an arrangement would fail to inspire the public confidence essential for uncovering the truth behind this "historic scandal."

The ADC further asserted that the President's decision to order an investigation effectively validates the party's earlier stance that the PFIPC controversy demands a thorough inquiry, moving past initial attempts by the Presidency to dismiss the allegations. However, the party reiterated its conviction that a judicial panel would provide answers "beyond all reasonable doubt" to the multitude of questions raised by the scandal. It emphasized that a Presidency implicated in such a significant national issue "does not have the credibility to authorise an investigation into a matter that has brought an entire country into disrepute."

Adding another layer of criticism, the ADC accused the Presidency of prejudicing the ongoing investigation. The party highlighted that official pronouncements describing appointment letters and other documents, allegedly used by Mr. Adeyemi Adeniyi, as "forged" even before investigators commenced their work, could severely compromise the probe's integrity. The ADC stressed that a primary objective of the investigation must be to independently ascertain whether these documents were genuinely issued, fraudulently obtained, improperly issued, or indeed forged. The party warned that "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 opposition party also made specific demands regarding the scope and conduct of the investigation. It insisted that every public institution and official connected to the controversy, including the influential Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, must be subjected to the same rigorous level of scrutiny. To eliminate any perception of interference or protection, the ADC urged President Tinubu to direct his Chief of Staff to proceed on leave until the investigation concludes. The party argued that allowing the Chief of Staff to remain in office during the probe could undermine public confidence and create an impression of favoritism or shielded accountability.

Furthermore, the ADC called upon the Federal Government to publicly commit to full disclosure of the ICPC investigation's findings. The party emphasized that Nigerians deserve access to the complete, unredacted report, not mere selective announcements. It urged that the report’s recommendations be implemented without fear or favour, cautioning that merely punishing a few officials would be insufficient to restore public confidence or Nigeria's international image.

In a related development, the ADC strongly condemned the reported arrest of Mr. Adeyemi Adeniyi’s father, characterizing the action as an act of intimidation and a blatant attempt to divert attention from the core issues of the scandal. The party underscored that Nigerian law does not recognize vicarious criminal liability, maintaining that only a person directly suspected of committing an offence can be lawfully arrested. It questioned the rationale behind targeting relatives of a suspect while public officials potentially implicated remained in their positions, stating, "The reported arrest of the father of Mr. Adeyemi Adeniyi only strengthens the impression that the government is panicking and is desperate to hide the truth rather than uncover it."

Concluding its statement, the ADC reiterated its commitment to closely monitor all developments surrounding the PFIPC scandal. The party described the matter as one bearing "serious national security implications," which exposes either the culpability or inherent vulnerability of public institutions. It appealed to the Federal Government to resist any temptation to sweep the controversy under the rug, asserting that only a truly transparent and independent investigation will ultimately restore public trust in the country’s institutions.