ADC calls for independent judicial panel probe into PFIPC Scandal, says ICPC may compromise

The African Democratic Congress (ADC), has rejected the assignment of Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to investigate the fake agency scandal involving President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, while insisting that only an independent Judicial panel can guarantee credible and transparent investigation.

Tinubu had in statement directed the ICPC to investigate the controversial existence of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), a fake agency alleged to having a link with Gbajabiamila.

However, in a statement issued on Tuesday by ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party argued that the Presidency lacks the credibility to supervise an investigation into a scandal in which it is itself a central subject.

The party said that although it welcomed President Tinubu’s directive for an investigation, the decision to hand the exercise to the ICPC, an agency under the Executive, raised concerns that the probe could be influenced from within the government.

According to the ADC, the President has effectively accepted the party’s earlier position that the PFIPC controversy requires a full investigation rather than the initial attempts by the Presidency to dismiss the allegations.

It, however, maintained that an independent judicial panel made up of respected Nigerians would inspire greater public confidence than an investigation conducted by a government agency under the control of the Executive.

The party said, “Only an independent judicial panel will be able to provide answers beyond all reasonable doubt to the many questions that this historic scandal has thrown up.”

It added that, “A Presidency that is at the very heart of a historic scandal such as this does not have the credibility to authorise an investigation into a matter that has brought an entire country into disrepute.”

The ADC further accused the Presidency of prejudicing the investigation by already describing the appointment letters and other documents allegedly used by Mr. Adeyemi Adeniyi was forged before investigators had commenced their work.

According to the party, one of the major objectives of the investigation should be to determine whether the documents were genuinely issued, fraudulently obtained, improperly issued or forged, warning that official pronouncements made before the commencement of the probe could compromise its integrity.

“The investigation must be allowed to independently determine whether the documents were forged, improperly issued, fraudulently obtained, or lawfully issued under the authority of the Presidency. 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 statement said.

The ADC also demanded that every public institution and official connected to the controversy, including the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, should be subjected to the same level of scrutiny.

The party said President Tinubu should direct his Chief of Staff to proceed on leave pending the conclusion of the investigation to eliminate any perception of interference or protection.

It argued that allowing the Chief of Staff to remain in office throughout the investigation could undermine public confidence in the process and create the impression that a key official was being shielded from accountability.

The opposition party further called on the Federal Government to commit to making the findings of the ICPC investigation public, insisting that Nigerians deserve full disclosure of the report rather than selective announcements.

It stressed that the complete, unredacted report should be released and its recommendations implemented without fear or favour, warning that merely punishing a few officials would not restore public confidence or Nigeria’s international image.

The ADC also condemned the reported arrest of the father of Mr. Adeyemi Adeniyi, describing the action as intimidation and an attempt to divert attention from the substantive issues surrounding the scandal.

The party argued that Nigerian law does not recognise vicarious criminal liability and maintained that only a person directly suspected of committing an offence could lawfully be arrested.

It questioned why relatives of the suspect were allegedly being targeted while public officials who may have questions to answer remained in office.

“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. If indeed a crime has been committed, only the suspect can be legally arrested,” the ADC stated.

The party reiterated that it would continue to monitor developments surrounding the PFIPC scandal, describing the matter as one with serious national security implications that exposes either the culpability or vulnerability of public institutions.

It urged the Federal Government not to allow the controversy to be swept aside, insisting that only a transparent and independent investigation would restore public trust in the country’s institutions.