- By OurReporter
Prince Adeyemi Mathew, the man at the centre of the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) scandal, has written an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, calling for an independent, multi-stakeholder investigation and saying he would only present himself to investigators once such a panel is constituted.
In the letter dated July 13, 2026, Mathew reportedly welcomed the President’s directive to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the alleged scandal, describing it as “a vital first step.” However, he argued that an investigation conducted solely by agencies under the Federal Government could be perceived as lacking independence, urging the inclusion of non-governmental and international stakeholders to bolster public confidence in the process.
Explaining why he has remained out of public view, Mathew was reported to have rejected suggestions that he was evading justice. “I write to you not as a fugitive evading accountability,” he said, describing himself as “a citizen committed to due process, justice and equity.” He claimed he had received credible intelligence warning that his life could be in danger if he surrendered outside an independently monitored process. He also cited the death of Dolapo Tanimola, whom he described as a key intermediary in the matter, as deepening his concerns for his safety.
Mathew, according to reports, questioned the official account of Tanimola’s reported death in a fire at Kachi Hotel in Utako, Abuja, alleging that there had been no independent public verification of the incident. He further claimed that the hotel was later demolished by unidentified armed persons, an action he alleged may have destroyed evidence relevant to the investigation. The allegations have not been independently verified, and no official response has been issued on 3specific claims.
As part of his proposal, Mathew called for the establishment of an independent panel comprising the Nigerian Bar Association, civil society organisations, independent media, human rights groups, and diplomatic missions, while suggesting that the ICPC and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) serve in technical support capacities. He specifically mentioned Amnesty International, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), as well as representatives of the United Nations, African Union, ECOWAS, the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund.
He said he would immediately submit himself for questioning and provide documentary evidence in his possession once such a panel is constituted, arguing that an independent and transparent process would inspire greater public confidence than one conducted exclusively by government agencies. As of the time of filing this report, the Presidency had not responded to the letter, while the ICPC’s investigation into the alleged PFIPC-related budget insertion remains ongoing.
With reports from the Vanguard