Calls for a comprehensive and independent investigation have intensified following revelations surrounding the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), with analysts arguing that official statements issued so far have failed to answer key questions raised by Nigerians.
During a televised current affairs programme, commentators described the controversy as one of the most significant governance issues in recent times, insisting that the Presidency, the Budget Office, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and other relevant institutions provide detailed explanations on how the alleged agency operated.
Political analyst Reuben Abati said the official disclaimers issued by government agencies were insufficient, arguing that Nigerians deserve a full account of what transpired.
According to him, the public wants to know how an agency the Presidency says does not exist was allegedly able to operate from the Federal Secretariat, interact with government officials and appear in the 2026 federal budget with a reported allocation of about ₦1.3 billion.
Abati questioned the government's internal verification processes, noting that previous administrations maintained comprehensive directories of ministries, departments and agencies to enable public officials to verify appointments and identities.
"What happened? Nigerians want to know what is going on," he said, warning that the controversy had exposed possible weaknesses in administrative oversight.
Co-host Rufai Oseni also called for a broad forensic investigation into the matter, saying several aspects of the case require independent verification.
He questioned how the alleged agency reportedly obtained a budget code, secured office accommodation within the Federal Secretariat, opened government-related bank accounts and allegedly conducted official activities without being detected earlier.
Oseni also called for an independent review of the circumstances surrounding the death of Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola, an individual mentioned during the investigation, saying greater transparency would help build public confidence in the outcome of the case.
The analysts further questioned whether existing oversight mechanisms within government institutions functioned effectively, asking how the alleged agency was reportedly able to interact with public institutions if it had no legal existence.
The programme also featured reactions from members of the public, many of whom argued that the alleged activities could not have been carried out by a single individual without significant institutional failures.
Some commentators questioned how the council reportedly appeared in the approved federal budget despite the Presidency's insistence that it was never an official government agency. Others called on the National Assembly, the Budget Office and relevant anti-corruption agencies to determine whether additional irregularities exist within government records.
Despite the growing public debate, the analysts stressed that allegations made by and against individuals connected to the case remain unproven and should be resolved through a transparent and independent investigation.
The Presidency has maintained that the alleged council was never part of the Federal Government's official structure and has described its purported Director-General, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, as an impostor facing criminal charges.
As the case heads to court, observers say Nigerians will be looking to investigators and the judicial process to establish the facts, determine any institutional lapses and identify those responsible for any wrongdoing.
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