ICPC Launches Probe Into Alleged N1.3bn Budget Fraud; Accused Official Claims Life Threats

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has commenced an investigation into the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) scandal. This development coincides with fresh legal challenges for the central figure in the case, Adeniyi Adeyemi, who is scheduled for arraignment today by the police before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Following a presidential directive ordering a comprehensive inquiry into the PFIPC and an alleged N1.3 billion unauthorized insertion into the 2026 Appropriation Bill, the ICPC has confirmed it is actively tracking the case. Commission spokesperson John Odey stated that the agency is fully equipped to spearhead the investigation, either independently or in partnership with sister security agencies, with a formal report expected within a 30-day window.

In an open letter addressed to the presidency, Adeyemi welcomed the investigation but expressed concern over the impartiality of the process. He argued that because the ICPC operates under the executive branch of government which is connected to the core allegations a truly unbiased hearing requires a broader, multi-stakeholder approach.

Adeyemi urged the federal government to establish an independent panel to oversee the inquiry. He proposed that this panel include representatives from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), human rights organizations, civil society groups, and international observers from the United Nations, the European Union, the World Bank, and the diplomatic missions of the United States and the United Kingdom, with the ICPC and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) acting as technical partners. He stated that he would immediately present comprehensive documentation and verifiable evidence once such a multi-stakeholder panel is established.

Furthermore, Adeyemi alleged that surrendering to custody under the current framework poses an immediate threat to his life, citing intelligence reports of a plot against him. He also highlighted highly unusual circumstances surrounding the death of a key intermediary in the matter, Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola. According to Adeyemi, official reports attribute Tanimola’s death to a sudden fire at an Abuja hotel, yet there is no independent media or eyewitness verification of the incident. He claimed that days later, unidentified armed individuals manually demolished the hotel structure, an action he argues effectively erased vital physical evidence related to the case.