President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the activities of a purported “Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council” (PFIPC), describing the body as fictitious and unauthorized.
According to a State House statement issued on Tuesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the investigation must be completed within 30 days, with a comprehensive report submitted to the President.
The directive follows the discovery that the PFIPC was never established by the Federal Government and has no legal basis, presidential approval, executive authorization, or any other lawful government backing.
The statement identified one Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew as having allegedly presented himself as the Director-General of the council while falsely claiming to be a presidential appointee.
The ICPC has been tasked with investigating allegations including the forgery of appointment letters and other official government documents, the use of a false presidential appointment to obtain official recognition and diplomatic support such as visa facilitation, and the opening of multiple bank accounts in the names of purported government agencies using allegedly forged documents.
President Tinubu also directed the anti-corruption agency to examine the roles of other collaborators and determine how the fictitious body was able to gain an appearance of official legitimacy.
The investigation will further cover the origin and use of the alleged forged documents, the process through which official recognition or diplomatic support may have been sought or obtained, the operation of related bank accounts, the source and movement of any funds involved, and the involvement of any public officials, private individuals, financial institutions, intermediaries, or other entities connected to the alleged scheme.
In addition, the President instructed the ICPC to identify weaknesses in government procedures that may have been exploited and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
All federal ministries, departments, and agencies have been directed to cooperate fully with the commission by providing relevant information, records, and assistance required for the investigation.
President Tinubu stressed that the integrity of the Presidency and federal institutions must be safeguarded against impersonation, forgery, abuse of official identity, and other fraudulent activities. He also ordered that anyone found culpable be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law.
