…Calls For Constitution Of Independent Probe Panel
Disturbed by the alleged threats to life, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who was accused of feigning as the Director-General of the Project Fund and Public Infrastructure and Finance Commission (PFIPC), has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to establish an independent panel to investigate the alleged ₦1.3 billion budget allotment linked to the commission.
In his letter dated July 13, 2026, Adeyemi welcomed the President’s directive to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the matter but argued that the probe should be expanded to include independent stakeholders in order to ensure transparency and public confidence and that not until that his guaranteed, he may likely remain an endangered individual.
Adeyemi alleged that surrendering himself under the current circumstances could endanger his life, claiming he had received credible threats.
He also raised questions over the reported death of one of the alleged intermediaries in the case, Mr. Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola, and the subsequent demolition of a hotel in Abuja where he claimed key evidence may have existed.
In his plea to the president, Adeyemi stressed that an investigation handled solely by government agencies may not be perceived as impartial, citing that the allegations involve key government institutions.
He maintained that he was not evading accountability but was seeking a fair and transparent process.
Adeyemi suggested the creation of an independent investigative panel comprising representatives of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), civil society organisations, international observers, diplomatic missions, and anti-corruption agencies, including the ICPC and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), serving as technical partners.
He stated that he would immediately present documents and other evidence once such a panel is constituted, insisting that an independent process would strengthen public trust in the outcome of the investigation.
The allegations and claims made by Adeyemi remain subject to investigation and judicial determination.
It will be recalled that Adeyemi is expected to be arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged forgery, impersonation and related offences. The prosecution is expected to call several witnesses, including the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, whose petition reportedly triggered the police investigation.
OPEN LETTER TO HIS EXCELLENCY, PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU GCFR,
Date: 13 July 2026
Your Excellency,
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.
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 ₦1.3 billion allocation inserted into the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
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.
Under the current framework, obtaining a truly impartial hearing presents severe structural challenges. 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.
Furthermore, 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.
This is not an unfounded fear. My concerns are deeply validated by the highly alarming events surrounding Mr. Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola, a central intermediary in this matter.
Official reports claim Mr. Tanimola tragically died in a sudden fire incident at Kachi Hotel in Utako, Abuja. Yet, there remains a total absence of independent eyewitness or media verification of any such inferno.
More disturbingly, under highly unclear circumstances and without the official involvement of any federal capital regulatory agency, the entire Kachi Hotel structure was swiftly invaded by unidentified armed actors and manually demolished down to the rubble days later—effectively erasing a vital physical crime scene and erasing material evidence.
Following this calculated destruction of a key locus of this investigation, alongside multiple direct attempts on my life and the safety of my family, I am forced to communicate from a secure, undisclosed location.
If this investigation is to command the absolute trust of the Nigerian public and the international community, it must transcend standard bureaucratic boundaries.
Therefore, I respectfully urge Your Excellency to expand the scope of this inquiry by establishing an independent, multi-stakeholder investigative panel.
To guarantee complete neutrality, this panel should comprise:
1. Civil Society Organisations: Specifically Amnesty International, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and other transparency Organisations.
2. The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA): To guarantee strict adherence to constitutional due process.
3. Independent Media Representatives: Selected members from reputable print and broadcast institutions to ensure unfettered, transparent access to documentation.
4. International Financial Observers: Representatives from the World Bank and the IMF, given that the funds in question tie directly to multilateral credit frameworks.
5. Human Rights Observers: Amnesty International, to monitor compliance with international safety and legal standards.
6. Diplomatic Observers: Representatives from the United Nations, United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, ECOWAS and the African Union.
7. Statutory Enforcement: The ICPC and EFCC, serving as technical partners within this broader, independent coalition.
The moment this independent, multi-stakeholder panel is constituted, I will immediately step forward to present comprehensive documentation and verifiable evidences.
A system cannot credibly investigate itself when its own key actors are central to the discourse.
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.
I remain fully prepared to present the facts and cooperate entirely with a balanced, secure, and independent panel.
Respectfully,
Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew
