President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to investigate the activities of the so-called Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), describing it as a fictitious body with no legal backing.
According to a State House statement issued on Monday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the investigation is to be concluded within 30 days, after which a comprehensive report will be submitted to the President.
The directive followed the discovery that the PFIPC was never established by the Federal Government and has no basis in any law, presidential instrument, executive approval or any other lawful government action.
The statement identified one Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew as the individual who allegedly presented himself as the Director-General of the non-existent council and falsely claimed to be a presidential appointee.
President Tinubu directed the ICPC to investigate allegations involving forged appointment letters and other official government documents, the use of a false presidential appointment to seek 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.
The President also ordered the anti-corruption agency to investigate other collaborators and examine the broader circumstances that enabled the fictitious body to appear legitimate.
According to the statement, the probe will cover the origin and use of the alleged forged documents, the processes through which official recognition or diplomatic support may have been sought, the opening and operation of related bank accounts, the source and movement of funds, and the roles of any public officials, private individuals, financial institutions or intermediaries linked to the alleged scheme.
