The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, has accused the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of treating corruption and fraud as a “family affair”.
In a statement issued by his media office, Atiku alleged that despite meetings between Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew – described as the Director-General of the alleged Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) – and top government officials, the Federal Government now claims ignorance of the agency’s existence.
According to Atiku, the Tinubu administration would require “a forensic expert” to determine the extent of fraud and scams within the government. “The beleaguered and scandal-prone government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should not continue to sweep under the carpet or treat as ‘family affairs’ the litany of unforced fraud and corruption errors bedeviling the administration, the latest being the alleged monumental scam of a ‘ghost Federal Government agency’ operating in the heart of the Presidency”, the statement said.
The statement noted that Prince Adeyemi reportedly met with several high-ranking government officials and other prominent figures, including the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu; the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olanipekun Olukoyede; traditional rulers; diplomats, and prospective investors.
“We must never forget in a hurry that this same man met with key officials of the state and heads of government agencies. Prince Adeyemi operated in the full glare of the public and not as a ghost”, the statement added.
Atiku’s media office described as “unbelievable” the claim by the presidential spokesman that the Federal Government was unaware of the agency’s existence, insisting that the administration could not continue to serve as “a judge in its own case”.
The former VP called on President Tinubu and his aides to come clean by ensuring that no stone is left unturned in uncovering how an agency allegedly listed in the 2026 budget could exist without the government’s knowledge.
The statement raised a number of questions, including: “How did an unknown state actor manage to create and operate a Federal Government agency in the Federal Secretariat, under the supervision of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, without being detected?” “How did he secure a budgetary code and an allocation of ₦1.3 billion in the 2026 national budget?”
It further argued that describing the PFIPC as a ghost agency was untenable, claiming there was evidence that both the Senate and the House of Representatives had official communication with the agency. Atiku maintained that the controversy could not be resolved through a press statement alone, but required an independent investigation.
“The Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, and others alleged to be involved in this scandal cannot excuse themselves with a mere press statement. Public servants and political leaders must be accountable for their stewardship. We demand a forensic public probe. No amount of government-speak or scented propaganda can clear this mess”, he stressed.
