Olusegun ARIYO
Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has accused the President of attempting to clear itself over the alleged fake Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) scandal.
Atiku said the Presidency could not rely on the interim report of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) as proof of its innocence.
He argued that the report raised questions about how the alleged fraud was allowed to operate within government offices.
He made the position known in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu.
Atiku said the ICPC report reportedly identified cases of negligence and alleged connivance by public officers in government processes that allowed the fake agency to operate.
According to him, the allegations went beyond the activities of one person, as the suspect was alleged to have forged a presidential appointment letter, created a fictitious federal agency, used government offices and opened bank accounts with forged legislative documents.
“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 asked.
He said the reported recommendation for sanctions against public officers whose negligence facilitated the alleged activities showed that the matter could not simply be treated as the work of a lone impostor.
Atiku also demanded that the identities of officials allegedly involved in the process be made public.
“Nigerians deserve to know who did what, who authorised what, and who opened the doors that made this possible,” he said.
The former vice president also called for the full publication of the ICPC report, saying an interim report should not be used as a final declaration of innocence while investigations into possible collaborators and related bank accounts were still ongoing.
Atiku further called on the National Assembly to conduct an open investigation into the scandal and broadcast the proceedings live.
He said the call had become more important after the central figure in the controversy, identified as Mr Adeyemi, reportedly offered to appear before lawmakers and testify publicly.
“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,” Atiku said.
He warned that anything short of a transparent investigation could increase public suspicion that powerful individuals were being protected.
“Transparency cannot stop where the trail enters the corridors of power. The Presidency cannot investigate itself into innocence,” Atiku said.
He urged the government to open the investigation to public scrutiny, put witnesses under oath and allow Nigerians to hear the evidence for themselves.
