President Bola Tinubu has ordered the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the activities of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), describing the body as fictitious and unknown to the Federal Government.
The President directed the anti-graft agency to conclude its investigation and submit a comprehensive report within 30 days.
The directive was conveyed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the statement, the so-called PFIPC was never established by the Federal Government and has no legal backing, presidential approval, executive instrument or any lawful basis for existence.
The Presidency alleged that one Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew falsely presented himself as the Director-General of the organisation and claimed to be a presidential appointee.
Tinubu directed the ICPC to investigate the alleged forgery of appointment letters and other official government documents, the use of a false presidential appointment to secure 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.
The President also ordered a broader investigation into the circumstances that enabled the fictitious council to gain an appearance of legitimacy.
According to the Presidency, the probe will examine the origin and use of forged official documents, attempts to obtain government recognition or diplomatic support, the establishment and 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 in facilitating the alleged scheme.
Tinubu further tasked the ICPC with identifying institutional and procedural loopholes that may have been exploited and recommending measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
To facilitate the investigation, all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have been directed to provide the Commission with all relevant records, information and assistance required for the timely completion of the probe.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to accountability, the President stressed that the integrity of the Presidency and federal institutions must be safeguarded against impersonation, forgery, abuse of official identity and other fraudulent activities.
He also directed that anyone found culpable at the conclusion of the investigation should face the full weight of the law.