Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urged the National Assembly to order a joint appearance of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor. He argues that both officials must testify under oath to clarify the conflicting reports regarding the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, or PFIPC, fund scandal. The request, relayed through his aide Phrank Shaibu, follows testimony before the House of Representatives that revealed glaring inconsistencies between the two financial authorities.
Atiku described these contradictions as a potential attempt to obscure the truth. While the Office of the Accountant-General claimed the accounts were opened via forgery and denied authorization, the Central Bank maintained that the accounts followed proper protocol under the Accountant-General’s direction. Atiku noted that because these two accounts are mutually exclusive, they cannot both be accurate.
The former Vice President stated that this dispute has caused a major credibility crisis for the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He warned that the President’s inaction suggests a preference for image management over transparency. Atiku further criticized the silence of the Attorney-General of the Federation, claiming it exacerbates the public’s distrust.
Ultimately, Atiku framed the PFIPC issue as a test of the President’s competence and integrity. He challenged the administration to launch an independent investigation into the potential failure of institutional oversight. He concluded by asserting that if the President fails to ensure accountability, he owes the public an apology and has effectively lost the moral standing to remain in his position.
