Civil society organisations and legal experts have called for an independent investigation into the controversy surrounding the disputed Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), arguing that the ongoing probe by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) may not command full public confidence.
The groups reacted to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to the ICPC to investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged agency and submit a report within 30 days.
The controversy involves Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claims he was appointed Director-General of PFIPC with the support of the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
However, the Presidency and Gbajabiamila have denied any link with the organisation, insisting that PFIPC was never established by the Tinubu administration and that documents being presented by Adeyemi were allegedly forged.
Adeyemi has maintained that the council was legitimate, citing its office at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja and an alleged ₦1.3 billion allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
Reacting to the development, some civil society groups and lawyers argued that the Presidency had already taken a position on the matter by clearing Gbajabiamila before the conclusion of a full investigation.
They called for Gbajabiamila and other officials connected to the allegations to temporarily step aside to allow investigators work without interference.
One respondent said: “The Presidency cannot investigate itself. You cannot be the judge, jury and executioner in your own matter. The investigation should be done by independent people.”
The critics warned that allowing officials linked to the controversy to remain in office could create doubts about the credibility of the investigation.
Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, also demanded an independent inquiry, saying Nigerians deserved full details on how the disputed organisation allegedly obtained government recognition, office space and budgetary allocation.
Atiku said: “Something is fundamentally wrong within the machinery of this administration. Nigerians deserve the whole truth, not carefully scripted press statements.”
The Executive Director of the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), David Ugolor, urged President Tinubu to direct officials whose actions are being investigated to temporarily step aside.
Ugolor said the controversy exposed weaknesses in Nigeria’s accountability systems and warned that the credibility of the investigation would depend on transparency, independence and fairness.
He called for the publication of the terms of reference for the probe, protection of witnesses, examination of all relevant evidence and public release of the final report.
Similarly, the Executive Director of the International Press Centre, Lanre Arogundade, said an independent inquiry would have been more suitable due to the level of public interest generated by the controversy.
While acknowledging the ICPC’s legal powers to investigate corruption allegations, Arogundade said an independent process would better assure Nigerians that the probe was impartial.
ActionAid Nigeria Country Director, Andrew Mamedu, also welcomed efforts to uncover the truth but stressed that the investigation must be transparent and free from interference.
He said the key issue was not only who conducts the investigation but whether the process would be credible and trusted by Nigerians.
Mamedu added that the probe should go beyond individual responsibility and address institutional weaknesses that allowed such controversies to occur.
Meanwhile, Gbajabiamila has denied involvement in the PFIPC matter and reportedly threatened legal action against Adeyemi over allegations linking him to the controversy.
Samuel Agada is a writer and media contributor from Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria. He is a graduate of Biochemistry from the University of Jos and a former banker with GTBank and FCMB. A prolific writer, songwriter, educator, and Gospel preacher, he is passionate about informing, inspiring, and impacting society through his work.