President Bola Tinubu has ordered the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to launch a full-scale investigation into the activities of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), a body the Federal Government says does not exist.
The directive, announced in a statement on Tuesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, gives the anti-corruption agency 30 days to complete its investigation and submit a comprehensive report.
According to the Presidency, the PFIPC was never established by the Federal Government and has no legal backing, presidential approval, executive instrument or any lawful basis for operation.
The statement identified Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew as the individual who allegedly presented himself as the Director-General of the PFIPC and falsely claimed to have been appointed by the President.
The ICPC has been directed to investigate allegations involving forged appointment letters and other government documents, the alleged use of false presidential claims to obtain official recognition and diplomatic support, including visa facilitation, as well as the opening of multiple bank accounts in the names of purported government agencies using suspected forged documents.
President Tinubu also ordered investigators to examine the broader circumstances that enabled the alleged fictitious organisation to appear legitimate. The probe will cover the origin and use of the alleged forged documents, the process through which official recognition or diplomatic support may have been sought, the operation of related bank accounts, the source and movement of funds, and the possible involvement of public officials, private individuals, financial institutions or intermediaries.
In addition, the President directed the ICPC to identify any loopholes within government institutions that may have been exploited and recommend immediate reforms to prevent similar incidents in the future.
All Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have been instructed to cooperate fully with the Commission by providing all relevant records, information and assistance required for the investigation.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to accountability, Tinubu said the integrity of the Presidency and federal institutions must be protected from impersonation, forgery, abuse of official identity and any attempt to exploit weaknesses in the public service.
He further directed that anyone found culpable at the end of the investigation should face the full weight of the law.
