By Opeyemi Adelakun
Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who has been accused of posing as the Director-General of the Project Fund and Public Infrastructure and Finance Commission (PFIPC), has called on President Bola Tinubu to establish an independent, multi-stakeholder panel to investigate the alleged ₦1.3 billion PFIPC budget scandal and related allegations.
In an open letter dated July 13, 2026, Adeyemi commended President Tinubu for directing the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the matter but argued that the probe should be broadened to guarantee transparency, credibility and public confidence.
Addressing the President, Adeyemi said, “I write to you not as a fugitive evading accountability, but as a Nigerian citizen who maintains an unwavering belief in equity, justice and the rule of law.”
He added: “I commend your recent directive tasking the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) with investigating the circumstances surrounding the PFIPC scandal and the ₦1.3 billion allocation inserted into the 2026 Appropriation Bill.”
According to him, while the presidential directive was a positive step, an independent framework was necessary to ensure public confidence in the investigation.
“This directive is a vital first step, but the structural realities of this investigation compel me to speak out of a profound desire for absolute transparency,” he said.
Adeyemi argued that the current arrangement might not guarantee impartiality.
“The public narrative emanating from official channels remains heavily weighted toward my immediate arrest, effectively overshadowing the gravity of the systemic vulnerabilities and high-level involvement I have brought to light. True accountability cannot be achieved when the agency conducting the investigation answers directly to the branch of government within which the core allegations lie,” he stated.
He also alleged that surrendering to security agencies under the current circumstances would endanger his life.
“I must state clearly that walking freely into custody under the current arrangement poses an immediate, existential threat to my life. I have received verified, highly reliable intelligence indicating that I am targeted for elimination the moment I surface in an unmonitored environment,” Adeyemi claimed.
The defendant further referenced the reported death of Mr Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola, whom he described as a key intermediary in the matter, questioning the circumstances surrounding the incident and the subsequent demolition of Kachi Hotel in Abuja, where the death reportedly occurred.
According to him, the alleged demolition of the building, coupled with repeated threats to his life and family, compelled him to remain at an undisclosed location.
Adeyemi urged President Tinubu to constitute an independent investigative panel comprising representatives of civil society organisations, including Amnesty International and the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), independent media organisations, international financial institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), human rights groups and diplomatic missions, while the ICPC and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) would serve as technical partners.
“The moment this independent, multi-stakeholder panel is constituted, I will immediately step forward to present comprehensive documentation and verifiable evidence,” he said.
He added: “A system cannot credibly investigate itself when its own key actors are central to the discourse.”
Adeyemi maintained that expanding the panel would demonstrate the administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
“By broadening this panel, you will demonstrate to the world that your administration’s commitment to anti-corruption is absolute, institutional and above palace politics. The international community is closely watching how Nigeria handles this test of fiscal integrity and governance,” he stated.
He concluded by expressing his readiness to cooperate fully with such a panel.
“I remain fully prepared to present the facts and cooperate entirely with a balanced, secure and independent panel,” he said.
Meanwhile, Adeyemi is expected to be arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday over allegations of forgery, impersonation and related offences.
He and two others are facing an eight-count charge in suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025, filed by police prosecutor Wisdom Madaki on November 27, 2025.
The arraignment, initially scheduled for June 16, was adjourned after Adeyemi was reported to be ill, with Justice Mohammed Umar fixing Tuesday for the defendants to take their plea.
According to court documents, the prosecution intends to call several witnesses, including the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, whose petition reportedly triggered the police investigation, alongside officials of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) and other witnesses.
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