The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has challenged President Bola Tinubu to identify government officials allegedly involved in the circumstances surrounding the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council.

Atiku said the interim report of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission did not exonerate the Presidency, arguing that the findings instead raised questions about how an alleged impostor was able to operate within government circles, gain access to official facilities and instruments, and establish bank accounts in the names of fictitious government agencies.

In a statement issued on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the government could not acknowledge negligence and alleged connivance within its processes while maintaining that the State House system was completely above board.

“If there was connivance, who connived? 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?” Atiku queried.

The former Vice President said the findings had undermined any attempt to portray the matter as the isolated activities of a lone fraudster.

The alleged scheme by the self-styled Director-General of the disputed agency, Adeniyi Adeyemi, involved the alleged forgery of a presidential appointment letter, creation of a fictitious federal agency, appropriation of offices and instruments previously associated with the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, and opening of bank accounts using forged legislative instruments.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission had also uncovered two additional alleged fictitious agencies linked to Adeyemi.

President Tinubu had, on July 7, 2026, directed the ICPC to conduct a comprehensive 30-day investigation into the PFIPC controversy following weeks of public outcry.

The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, who was mentioned in the controversy, appeared before the ICPC on July 20 to provide information as part of the investigation. He has also filed a N15bn defamation suit against Adeyemi over the allegations.

Adeyemi is facing an eight-count charge before the Federal High Court in Abuja bordering on conspiracy, forgery and impersonation. The charges were filed by the police in November 2025.

He was rearrested in July after allegedly breaching his bail conditions and failing to appear for arraignment. He is expected to return to court later this month.

The House of Representatives has also launched a separate investigation into how the alleged fictitious agency secured a N1.3bn allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Act.

Speaking further, Atiku argued that the activities allegedly carried out by Adeyemi could not have been accomplished without failures or assistance from individuals within the government system.

“A fake agency does not walk into government offices by itself. A forged appointment letter does not validate itself. Bank accounts do not open themselves.

“Behind every door that opened, every process that was bypassed and every official instrument that was accessed was a human being. Name them,” he challenged Tinubu.

Atiku said the ICPC’s recommendation for sanctions against public officers whose negligence allegedly facilitated the operation further underscored the need to disclose their identities and roles.

He accused the Presidency of using the interim nature of the ICPC report to shield officials whose actions might have enabled the alleged fraud.

“What the ICPC Interim Report has done, in the main, is to shield the identities of shadow operatives within the presidency who allegedly connived to enable the fraud.

“Their identities should be made public, and their roles fully explained. Nigerians deserve to know who did what, who authorised what, and who opened the doors that made this possible,” he said.

The ADC presidential candidate maintained that an interim investigative report could not be regarded as a final declaration that the Presidency had been cleared, particularly as investigations into alleged collaborators and related bank accounts were reportedly continuing.

He renewed his call for an independent panel of inquiry to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the matter.

Atiku also urged the National Assembly to institute a public hearing into the controversy and broadcast the proceedings live.

His demand followed an invitation reportedly issued by Adeyemi to appear before a National Assembly investigation.

Atiku said the invitation provided an opportunity for the government to demonstrate its commitment to transparency by allowing witnesses to testify publicly and under oath.

“The presidency now has nowhere left to hide. If Mr Adeyemi is prepared to appear publicly, testify under oath, and answer questions before Nigerians, then let him be heard.

“The National Assembly should immediately institute an open, live-broadcast public hearing into this scandal,” he said.

He urged the Presidency not to obstruct or shield anyone connected with the matter.

Atiku said, “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. What is the presidency afraid of?”

He warned that anything short of an open hearing could deepen public suspicion that influential individuals were being protected.

“You cannot admit negligence and connivance within government and simultaneously pronounce the system spotless. That is like washing charcoal and expecting white water,” he said.