President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to launch a comprehensive investigation into the activities of a purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), describing the body as fictitious and unknown to the Federal Government.
The directive, issued on Tuesday in a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, mandates the anti-corruption agency to conclude its investigation and submit a detailed report within 30 days.
According to the Presidency, the investigation followed the discovery that the PFIPC “was never established by the Federal Government of Nigeria and has no basis in any law, presidential instrument, executive approval, or other lawful act of Government.”
The statement identified one Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who allegedly presented himself as the Director-General of the non-existent council and falsely claimed to be a presidential appointee.
Among the issues the ICPC has been directed to investigate are the alleged forgery of appointment letters and other official government documents, the use of false claims of presidential appointment to obtain official recognition and diplomatic support, including visa facilitation, and the opening of multiple bank accounts in the names of purported government agencies using allegedly forged documents.
President Tinubu said the investigation should extend beyond the principal suspect to uncover all collaborators and determine how the fictitious organisation managed to acquire what appeared to be official legitimacy.
“The investigation is to examine the provenance and use of false official documents; the processes through which official recognition or diplomatic support may have been sought or obtained; the opening and operation of any related bank accounts; the source and movement of any funds involved; and the role of any public officer, private individual, financial institution, intermediary or other person or entity that may have facilitated, enabled or participated in the alleged scheme,” the statement said.
The President also instructed the ICPC to identify any loopholes in government and institutional procedures that may have been exploited and recommend urgent measures to prevent similar abuses in the future.
To facilitate the probe, all ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government have been directed to provide the Commission with all relevant records, information and assistance upon lawful request.
Emphasising the seriousness of the matter, Tinubu said the Presidency would not tolerate attempts to impersonate government institutions or abuse official identities.
“The integrity of the Presidency and the institutions of the Federal Government must be protected against impersonation, forgery, abuse of official identity and the exploitation of weaknesses in the public service,” the President stated.
He further directed that all persons found culpable be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law.
The announcement comes amid growing concerns over the activities of individuals and organisations allegedly using forged government documents and false presidential appointments to obtain official recognition and financial benefits.
