Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, on Friday faulted attempts by the Presidency to absolve itself of alleged involvement in the fake Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) scandal, insisting that the government could not investigate itself and declare itself innocent.
The former vice president argued that the Presidency could not rely on the interim report of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) as proof of its innocence, saying the report itself raised troubling questions about how the alleged fraudulent scheme was able to operate within government institutions.
Atiku’s position was contained in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu.
According to him, the ICPC’s interim findings reportedly identified cases of negligence and alleged connivance by public officers that enabled the fake agency to operate, indicating that the scandal extended beyond the actions of a single individual.
He noted that the prime suspect allegedly forged a presidential appointment letter, established a fictitious federal agency, operated from government offices and opened bank accounts using forged legislative documents.
Questioning the role of public officials in the alleged fraud, Atiku said, “If public officers were negligent, who are they? Who granted access to government offices? Who recognised this supposed Director General? Who enabled him to operate within the machinery of government?”
He argued that the reported recommendation for sanctions against public officers whose negligence allegedly facilitated the scheme demonstrated that the matter could not simply be dismissed as the handiwork of a lone impostor.
The ADC presidential candidate also demanded that the identities of all government officials allegedly involved be made public.
“Nigerians deserve to know who did what, who authorised what, and who opened the doors that made this possible,” he said.
Atiku further called for the full publication of the ICPC report, maintaining that an interim report should not be presented as a final declaration of innocence while investigations into possible collaborators and related bank accounts were still ongoing.
He also urged the National Assembly to conduct an open investigation into the alleged scandal and televise the proceedings live.
According to him, such a public hearing has become even more necessary following reports that the central figure in the controversy, identified as Mr. Adeyemi, had offered to appear before lawmakers and testify publicly.
“If the Villa is truly clean, it should be the first to welcome live television coverage. Let Nigerians watch, unedited, as the witnesses testify, and the evidence is presented under oath,” Atiku said.
The former vice president warned that anything short of a transparent investigation would only deepen public suspicion that influential individuals were being shielded from accountability.
“Transparency cannot stop where the trail enters the corridors of power. The Presidency cannot investigate itself into innocence,” he stated.
He urged the Federal Government to throw the investigation open to public scrutiny, place all witnesses under oath and allow Nigerians to hear the evidence for themselves.
