By Faith Chondol
The Centre for Human Rights and Social Advancement (CEFSAN) has called for an independent judicial inquiry into the alleged ₦1.3 billion Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) scandal, saying the prosecution of a single suspect is insufficient to address wider issues of public accountability.
The call was made in a statement issued on Friday July 3rd 2026 by the organisation’s Executive Director, Yusha’u Sani Yankuzo, in response to the controversy surrounding the alleged operations of the PFIPC and the criminal charges filed against Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew.
CEFSAN said although Matthew is reportedly facing charges bordering on forgery, impersonation, conspiracy and operating a fictitious government agency, his prosecution should not replace a comprehensive investigation into how the alleged council operated and reportedly secured public funding.
The organisation questioned how an agency now described by authorities as fictitious allegedly received about ₦1.3 billion in the 2026 Appropriation Act, asking who initiated, processed and approved the budgetary allocation.
It also demanded explanations over reports that the alleged agency operated from the Federal Secretariat, recruited hundreds of workers and functioned openly for months before security agencies intervened.
According to CEFSAN, investigators should determine whether public officials knowingly facilitated the alleged scheme or whether institutional failures enabled its operations.
The organisation further noted that Matthew had reportedly linked the establishment of the council to the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, while acknowledging that the Presidency has denied the allegation, insisting that the suspect acted through forgery and deception.
It argued that the conflicting claims cannot be resolved through public statements or political exchanges but require an independent, transparent and evidence-based investigation.
CEFSAN also referenced the reported death of an individual identified as “Tanimola”, who was allegedly mentioned during police investigations as the source of appointment documents, saying the development further underscored the need for an impartial inquiry.
The organisation called for the immediate establishment of an independent judicial commission of inquiry, a forensic investigation into how the alleged PFIPC was included in the 2026 national budget, and the publication of all official records relating to its creation, funding, staffing and operations.
It also urged the authorities to investigate every public official whose actions or omissions may have contributed to the alleged scandal and prosecute anyone found culpable in accordance with the law.
CEFSAN maintained that public confidence in democratic institutions can only be restored through transparency, accountability and a thorough, independent examination of all allegations surrounding the controversy.
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