A broad coalition of civil society organisations, lawyers, and political figures, including ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s decision to task the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) with investigating the controversial “Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council” (PFIPC). They argue that an independent inquiry is necessary to ensure public trust and a credible outcome, demanding that Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila and other connected officials temporarily step aside to allow an impartial investigation.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The controversy centres on Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claims Gbajabiamila facilitated his appointment as Director-General of the PFIPC. While both the Presidency and Gbajabiamila vehemently deny any connection, branding Adeyemi’s documents as forgeries, Adeyemi insists on the council’s legitimacy, citing its physical office in the Federal Secretariat and a ₦1.3bn budgetary allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Act.

Critics contend that the Presidency has already compromised the investigation by prematurely exonerating Gbajabiamila. By leaving accused officials in power, they argue, the process creates a conflict of interest and the perception that investigators are constrained.

Key figures have voiced the following concerns:

• Atiku Abubakar (ADC Presidential Candidate): Demanded a “truly independent investigation” that follows the evidence without fear or favour, asserting that Nigerians deserve the full truth rather than “scripted press statements.“

• David Ugolor (Executive Director, ANEEJ): Argued that for the sake of justice, public confidence, and international standards, officials under investigation must step aside to avoid interference. He called for full transparency, including making the terms of reference and final findings public.

• Lanre Arogundade (Executive Director, IPC): Acknowledged the ICPC’s statutory powers but suggested that given the intense public interest, a process perceived as fully independent would have been more appropriate.

• Andrew Mamedu (Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria): Emphasised that the investigation must be credible and transparent in practice, allowing the ICPC to work without interference and addressing the institutional weaknesses that allowed the disputed body to secure office space and funding.

The controversy is seen as a test case for the administration’s commitment to accountability, with critics stressing that no official should be above the law.