President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to launch a comprehensive investigation into the activities of a fraudulent organisation operating under the name Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
The President directed the anti-corruption agency to conclude its investigation within 30 days and submit a detailed report on its findings.
According to a statement issued by the Presidency on Tuesday, the directive followed the discovery that the PFIPC is a fictitious organisation that was never created, approved or recognised by the Federal Government of Nigeria. The Presidency clarified that the body has no legal backing, presidential approval, executive instrument or any official government authorization.
The statement further revealed that one Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew allegedly presented himself as the Director-General of the fake council while falsely claiming to have been appointed by President Tinubu.
The ICPC has been mandated to investigate the alleged use of forged appointment letters and counterfeit government documents, as well as claims that the suspect sought official recognition and diplomatic support, including visa facilitation, by falsely presenting himself as a presidential appointee.
Investigators are also expected to examine allegations that multiple bank accounts were opened in the names of purported government agencies using forged documents.
President Tinubu directed the Commission to widen the scope of the investigation beyond the principal suspect to include any collaborators, facilitators or institutions that may have contributed to the operation of the fraudulent scheme or helped it gain an appearance of legitimacy.
The probe will cover the origin and circulation of fake official documents, the procedures through which diplomatic or official recognition may have been sought, the establishment and 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 addition to uncovering those responsible, the President instructed the ICPC to identify loopholes within government institutions that may have been exploited and recommend urgent reforms to prevent similar incidents in the future.
To facilitate the investigation, all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have been directed to cooperate fully with the ICPC by providing all relevant documents, records and information requested in accordance with the law.
President Tinubu stressed that the integrity of the Presidency and federal institutions must be safeguarded against impersonation, forgery, abuse of official identity and other fraudulent practices capable of undermining public confidence in government.
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He also ordered that anyone found culpable at the end of the investigation should be prosecuted and dealt with strictly in accordance with the provisions of Nigerian law.
