By Our Reporter
President Bola Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the activities of a purported “Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council” (PFIPC), describing the body as fictitious and unknown to the Federal Government.
The President ordered the anti-corruption agency to conclude its investigation within 30 days and submit a comprehensive report.
According to a statement issued on Monday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the directive followed the discovery that the PFIPC was never established by the Federal Government and has no legal backing, presidential approval, executive instrument or any lawful basis for its existence.
The statement identified one Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew as the individual who allegedly presented himself as the Director-General of the fictitious council while falsely claiming to be a presidential appointee.
President Tinubu directed the ICPC to investigate the alleged forgery of appointment letters and other official government documents, as well as the use of the false presidential appointment to obtain official recognition, diplomatic support and visa facilitation.
The investigation will also examine the opening of multiple bank accounts in the names of purported government agencies using allegedly forged documents.
The President instructed the Commission to probe not only the activities of the principal suspect and his collaborators but also the broader circumstances that enabled the fictitious organisation and false claims of presidential appointment to gain an appearance of legitimacy.
The ICPC is expected to investigate 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 any funds involved, and the possible involvement of public officials, private individuals, financial institutions or intermediaries in the scheme.
President Tinubu also directed the Commission to identify any loopholes in government and institutional procedures that may have been exploited and recommend measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
To facilitate the investigation, all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government have been instructed to provide the ICPC with all relevant records, information and assistance upon lawful request.
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 further directed that anyone found culpable at the conclusion of the investigation should be dealt with in accordance with the law.
