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The Nigerian Guild of Investigative Journalists (NGIJ) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to establish an independent panel of inquiry to investigate the controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), warning that the nature of the allegations requires a transparent process capable of restoring public confidence.
In a statement jointly signed by its National President, Mallam Abdulrahman Aliagan, and National Secretary, Rowland Olonishuwa, the Guild expressed concern over what it described as the premature clearance of the President’s Chief of Staff by the Presidency through the President’s spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, before the completion of any comprehensive investigation.
According to the Guild, publicly declaring any government official free of wrongdoing before an impartial inquiry is concluded undermines the principles of fairness, due process and accountability.
“The premature exoneration of any public official before the conclusion of an independent investigation weakens public trust in the integrity of the process. Nigerians deserve to see justice carried out in a manner that is both transparent and credible,” the statement said.
The NGIJ described the controversy surrounding the PFIPC as one of the country’s most significant governance issues in recent times, arguing that the reported sequence of events suggests institutional involvement that goes beyond the actions of a few individuals.
The Guild pointed to reports indicating that the Council allegedly operated a bank account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), appeared in the 2026 Appropriation Bill presented to the National Assembly, was allocated office space within the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja, and reportedly recruited more than 300 personnel, including eight directors.
According to the organisation, these developments raise critical questions about how such administrative and financial processes could have occurred without official approvals and support from relevant government institutions.
“The opening of banking arrangements, inclusion in the national budget, allocation of office accommodation, recruitment of hundreds of personnel and appointment of directors are not routine actions that ordinarily happen without institutional authorisation. These issues deserve thorough and independent examination,” the Guild stated.
It warned that failure to fully investigate the matter could further weaken public confidence in Nigeria’s governance institutions and the country’s anti-corruption framework.
While acknowledging the role of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Guild argued that the magnitude of the allegations and the possible involvement of influential public officials require a broader investigative mechanism that would command greater public trust.
The NGIJ therefore recommended the establishment of an independent judicial panel comprising retired judges, forensic auditors, representatives of anti-corruption agencies, professional organisations and civil society groups. It said the panel should be empowered to obtain relevant documents, summon witnesses and recommend appropriate legal or administrative action based on its findings.
The Guild also urged the National Assembly to commence a public legislative investigation into the legal status, funding, establishment and operational activities of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council.
It maintained that every public office holder, regardless of status or political influence, must remain accountable under the law whenever credible allegations emerge.
According to the NGIJ, only a transparent, independent and comprehensive investigation can establish the true facts surrounding the PFIPC controversy, protect those found innocent, hold any culpable individuals accountable where necessary, and reinforce public confidence in President Tinubu’s commitment to transparency, accountability and the rule of law.
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