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Former Vice President of Nigeria and Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has said the conflicting accounts by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) accounts have exposed what he described as serious contradictions within the Federal Government.
Atiku, in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said the testimony presented by the CBN before the House of Representatives contradicts the position earlier taken by the OAGF, thereby raising fresh questions about the handling of the PFIPC accounts.
According to him, while one institution reportedly denied authorising the opening of the accounts and alleged forgery, the other told lawmakers that the accounts were opened on the directive of the Accountant-General after due process was followed.
“Both accounts cannot be true. Nigerians deserve to know which version is accurate and who is misleading the public,” Atiku said.
The former Vice President argued that the public contradiction between two key financial institutions has created a credibility problem for the administration and called on President Bola Tinubu to clarify the government’s position.
“When two of the country’s most important financial and monetary institutions give conflicting accounts on the same transaction, it raises serious concerns that cannot be ignored,” he stated.
Atiku also questioned why an independent investigation has not yet been ordered, saying prolonged delay could further deepen public suspicion.
He added that the silence of the Attorney-General of the Federation has compounded the controversy and urged the National Assembly to summon both the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Governor of the Central Bank to appear jointly before its investigative committee under oath.
According to him, the PFIPC controversy has gone beyond a dispute over bank accounts and has become a test of transparency, accountability, and institutional integrity.
Atiku maintained that President Tinubu should address the nation on the matter and ensure that all those found culpable are held accountable.
He further stated that if the administration is unable to restore public confidence through a credible and independent investigation, the President should apologise to Nigerians and consider resigning from office.