Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticized the federal government following revelations from the ongoing probe into the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC). Speaking through a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku asserted that the investigation’s findings have completely exposed an administration deeply trapped by its own internal contradictions. He pointed out that the unfolding details from the probe lay bare a severe lack of coherence and transparency within the current leadership’s framework.

Consequently, the former Vice President has directly charged President Bola Tinubu to tender an unreserved apology to the citizens of Nigeria. Atiku maintained that the President must take full responsibility for presiding over what he described as an unprecedented collapse of public accountability. He emphasized that the administration’s handling of the PFIPC reflects a broader institutional failure that demands immediate acknowledgement and rectification from the highest level of government.

The controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) has dominated national headlines after the Presidency abruptly disowned the body. The scandal escalated following stunning revelations that the phantom entity was allocated ₦1.3 billion in the 2026 national budget and had successfully established official banking channels. Testifying before a House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) confirmed it opened two domiciliary accounts for the council under an explicit mandate from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

However, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is also the African Democratic Congress (ADC) 2027 presidential candidate, pointed out that the apex bank’s testimony completely exposes institutional deceit. He noted that the CBN’s evidence directly contradicts earlier claims made by the Office of the Accountant-General regarding the origin and legitimacy of the accounts. This severe administrative mismatch has left the government struggling to reconcile its conflicting narratives.

According to Atiku, this stark contradiction between the two critical financial institutions fundamentally shatters the presidency’s defense. He asserted that the conflicting positions have plunged the Tinubu administration into one of the gravest credibility crises in Nigeria’s democratic history. The opposing claims highlight a profound breakdown in federal oversight, leaving the public questioning the integrity of the nation’s financial management.

“This is where the cover-up appears to begin. One institution denied authorising the opening of the PFIPC accounts and alleged forgery. Another, before the representatives of the Nigerian people, stated that the accounts were opened on the directive of the Accountant-General after due process was followed. Both accounts cannot be true.”

The former Vice President added, “When two of your most sensitive financial and monetary authorities publicly contradict each other on the same transaction, no serious leader needs a clairvoyant to know that his administration is trapped in a web of deception and a profound crisis of credibility.

“The President cannot continue to watch from the sidelines while his government tears itself apart with conflicting narratives.”

“President Tinubu must answer a simple question: Which version does he believe—the Accountant-General’s or the Central Bank’s?

“If he believes neither, why has he not acted? Every day he delays ordering a truly independent investigation, he deepens public suspicion that preserving his administration’s image has taken precedence over establishing the truth.”

“The continued silence of the Attorney-General of the Federation, the nation’s chief law officer, only compounds this credibility crisis and reinforces the perception that this administration is more interested in containing the political fallout than uncovering the truth.”

He implored the National Assembly to immediately summon the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Governor of the Central Bank to appear together before its investigative committee under oath so Nigerians can finally hear one truthful account.

“The PFIPC scandal has ceased to be merely about disputed accounts. It has become a referendum on President Tinubu’s integrity and competence.

“If a single individual could allegedly orchestrate a scheme that has thrown two of Nigeria’s most critical financial and monetary authorities into public contradiction, Nigerians are entitled to ask how many other abuses may have escaped detection because of weak oversight and institutional failure.

“President Tinubu owes Nigerians an unreserved apology for presiding over this unprecedented collapse of public accountability.

“If he cannot immediately restore public confidence through a genuinely independent investigation and ensure that everyone responsible is held to account, then he has forfeited the moral authority to continue in office.

“The honourable course is simple: apologise to Nigerians and resign.”