Adeyemi writes Tinubu, demands ‘independent’ panel on PFIPC controversy

Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi has written an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to constitute an independent, multi stakeholder panel to investigate the controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) and the disputed ₦1.3 billion budget allocation linked to the body.

In the letter dated July 13, Adeyemi commended the President for directing the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the matter. However, he argued that an inquiry conducted solely by the anti corruption agency would not sufficiently guarantee transparency and public confidence.

Adeyemi, who has been accused of posing as the director general of the controversial PFIPC, said an independent panel comprising relevant stakeholders would ensure fairness and credibility in the investigation.

“I write to you not as a fugitive evading accountability, but as a Nigerian citizen who maintains an unwavering belief in equity, justice and the rule of law,” Adeyemi said in the letter.

He described the President’s directive to the ICPC as “a vital first step” but maintained that the current arrangement presented “severe structural challenges” to achieving an impartial outcome.

Adeyemi also claimed that surrendering himself under the present circumstances could put his life at risk, alleging that he had received credible intelligence suggesting he faced threats to his safety if taken into custody without independent oversight.

He urged President Tinubu to establish a broader investigative panel that would include representatives of professional bodies and civil society to strengthen public trust in the outcome of the probe.

The letter comes amid an ongoing investigation into the alleged creation of the PFIPC, a body authorities have described as fictitious, and the insertion of a ₦1.3 billion allocation for it in the 2026 Appropriation Bill. The controversy has also prompted police and anti corruption investigations into allegations of forgery, impersonation and other related offences.