The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on President Bola Tinubu to establish an independent Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the controversy surrounding the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), describing the matter as one that raises serious questions about governance, accountability, and the credibility of public institutions.
The demand was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi.
According to the ADC, it reviewed both the allegations surrounding the PFIPC and the Presidency’s response issued on July 1 by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. However, the party said the government’s response failed to address the key issues and instead generated fresh concerns.
“The ADC takes the July 1 statement by the Special Adviser as the official position of the APC-led government on the matter. Rather than provide answers to the questions raised by Nigerians, the statement has left even more questions unanswered,” the party said.
The opposition party argued that the controversy extends beyond allegations against a single individual accused of document forgery, insisting that it has become a national issue involving multiple government institutions.
According to the party, if the Presidency’s claim that the PFIPC was a fictitious organisation is accurate, then serious questions must be answered about how such an entity allegedly interacted with ministries, government agencies, and foreign diplomats while operating across several arms of government.
“This is no longer a matter involving one individual. It goes to the heart of the security and integrity of the Nigerian state under the Tinubu administration,” the statement added.
The ADC also accused the Presidency of concentrating its response on clearing the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, instead of explaining how the alleged activities were able to take place.
It maintained that if the government’s account is correct, several institutions should account for their roles in the matter.
The party identified the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Budget Office of the Federation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services (DSS), 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 as entities that should be investigated by an independent panel.
The ADC questioned how the alleged organisation reportedly obtained recruitment approvals, recruited more than 300 civil servants, secured budgetary allocations worth billions of naira, exchanged official correspondence with government agencies, engaged foreign diplomats, and operated across multiple public institutions if it had no legal existence.
“If indeed the PFIPC was a fictitious organisation, Nigerians deserve to know how it allegedly secured recruitment approvals, budgetary allocations, official correspondence, diplomatic engagements, interactions with federal institutions, and recognition across multiple arms of government,” the party stated.
The opposition party further argued that if the PFIPC was not fictitious, as suggested by available allegations, the government should explain why it had publicly distanced itself from the organisation.
The ADC maintained that the controversy cannot be resolved through official statements or criminal prosecutions alone, insisting that only an independent judicial inquiry can establish the facts, identify those responsible, and restore public confidence in public institutions.
It also warned that the controversy could damage Nigeria’s international reputation, noting that foreign governments and diplomatic partners may begin to question the authenticity of agencies and institutions representing the country.
The party further accused the Tinubu administration of applying double standards in its anti-corruption efforts.
It noted that agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Department of State Services had investigated allegations involving former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, while no similar action had been taken against the President’s Chief of Staff over the PFIPC allegations.
“Yet, in a matter involving serious allegations concerning the Chief of Staff to the President, the same government has not deemed it necessary even to ask Femi Gbajabiamila to step aside pending an independent investigation,” the statement said.
According to the ADC, the perceived disparity in the government’s handling of corruption allegations undermines public confidence and creates the impression that political opponents and government officials are treated differently.
The party therefore urged President Tinubu to immediately constitute an independent Judicial Commission of Inquiry headed by respected and impartial Nigerians with powers to summon witnesses, obtain relevant documents, and determine whether negligence, abuse of office, misconduct, or any criminal wrongdoing occurred.
