Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has rejected the interim report of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) scandal, saying it raises more questions than it answers.
Reacting on Friday through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the Presidency cannot present the report as an exoneration when it reportedly admits to “negligence and connivance” within government processes.
According to the findings referenced by Atiku, an individual allegedly forged a presidential appointment letter, created a fictitious federal agency, took over offices of the former Presidential Economic Advisory Council, opened bank accounts with forged legislative instruments, and created two additional fake government agencies.
“Yet, the statement said, Nigerians are being told that State House systems were ‘above board.’
“Both claims can not comfortably coexist,” Atiku said.
“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?”
The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) argued that the ICPC’s reported recommendation of sanctions against negligent public officers “demolishes any attempt to portray the scandal as the work of a lone impostor.”
“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 said.
Atiku said the ICPC interim report appeared to shield “shadow operatives within the presidency who allegedly connived to enable the fraud” and demanded that their identities be made public.
He insisted that an independent panel of inquiry is needed, and backed calls for a live, televised National Assembly hearing.
“The central figure in the saga, Mr. Adeyemi, has publicly challenged the government by asking to appear before a National Assembly investigation broadcast live on national television,” he noted.
“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.”
“The Presidency must not attempt to block, gag, or shield anyone connected to this matter. 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?”
Atiku warned that anything short of transparency would deepen suspicions that powerful interests are being protected.
“You can not admit negligence and connivance within government and simultaneously pronounce the system spotless. That is like washing charcoal and expecting white water,” he said.
He demanded the publication of the full ICPC report and the names of all culpable public officials, insisting that “transparency can not stop where the trail enters the corridors of power. The presidency can not investigate itself into innocence.”
“Open the investigation. Put the witnesses under oath. Switch on the cameras. Let Nigerians hear the truth for themselves,” the statement added.
“The question remains: Who inside the Villa opened the door?”