President Bola Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the activities of a group operating under the name Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), describing it as a fictitious body with no legal backing.
The President ordered that the investigation be concluded within 30 days, with a detailed report submitted to him.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Federal Government never established the PFIPC, and it has no basis in any law, presidential directive, executive approval or any other lawful government instrument.
The statement said one Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew allegedly presented himself as the Director-General of the council and falsely claimed to have been appointed by the President.
The ICPC is expected to investigate the alleged forgery of appointment letters and other official government documents, the use of a false claim of presidential appointment 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 allegedly forged documents.
President Tinubu also directed the anti-corruption agency to investigate the activities of other collaborators and examine how the fictitious organisation was able to acquire the appearance of official legitimacy.
The probe will further cover the origin and use of the alleged forged documents, the processes through which official recognition or diplomatic support may have been sought or obtained, the operation of related bank accounts, the source and movement of funds, and the possible involvement of public officials, private individuals, financial institutions or other intermediaries.
The President also instructed the commission to identify loopholes in government procedures that may have been exploited and recommend measures to prevent similar occurrences.
Tinubu directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government to cooperate fully with the ICPC by providing all relevant information and records required for the investigation.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to accountability, the President stressed that the integrity of the Presidency and government institutions must be protected against impersonation, forgery, abuse of official identity and other fraudulent activities.
He added that anyone found culpable should face the full weight of the law.
