President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) to launch a full-scale probe into a fake body operating as the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), and has given the anti-graft agency 30 days to submit its findings.
The directive followed the discovery that the PFIPC was never established by the Federal Government and lacked legal backing, presidential approval, or executive authorization.
At the center of the alleged fraud is one Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who reportedly paraded himself as the Director-General of the fictitious council and falsely claimed to be a presidential appointee.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the ICPC will investigate the alleged forgery of appointment letters and other government documents, as well as claims that the fake presidential appointment was used to obtain official recognition, diplomatic support and visa facilitation.
The probe will also cover the alleged opening of multiple bank accounts in the names of purported government agencies using forged documents.
Tinubu directed the ICPC to investigate not only Matthew and his alleged collaborators but also the circumstances that enabled the non-existent council to project an appearance of official legitimacy.
The commission is expected to trace the origin and use of forged government documents, scrutinize how official recognition or diplomatic support may have been secured, examine the operation of related bank accounts, track the movement of funds, and determine the involvement of any public officials, private individuals, financial institutions or intermediaries linked to the scheme.
The President further instructed the anti-corruption agency to identify loopholes in government procedures that may have been exploited and recommend urgent reforms to prevent similar incidents.
He also directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to cooperate fully with the ICPC by providing all relevant records and information required to ensure a swift investigation.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to accountability, Tinubu stressed that the integrity of the Presidency and federal institutions must be protected against impersonation, forgery and abuse of official identity.
He added that anyone found culpable should face the full weight of the law.
