President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to launch a thorough investigation into a fraudulent entity styled as the “Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council” (PFIPC).
According to a statement released to Persecondnews by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the commission has 30 days to conclude its probe and submit a comprehensive report.
This directive follows the discovery that the PFIPC is entirely fictitious, possessing no legal backing, executive approval, or official recognition by the Federal Government.
Furthermore, the presidency unmasked one Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who had been parading himself as the council’s Director-General under the false pretense of being a presidential appointee.
Among the issues to be investigated by the ICPC are the forged appointment letters and other official government documents; the use of a false claim of presidential appointment to seek or obtain 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.
Tinubu directed the ICPC to investigate not only the conduct of the principal individual and other collaborators involved but also the wider circumstances that may have enabled a fictitious body and a false claim of presidential appointment to acquire an appearance of official legitimacy.
The investigation is to examine the provenance and use of false official documents; the processes through which official recognition or diplomatic support may have been sought or obtained; the opening and operation of any related bank accounts; the source and movement of any funds involved; and the role of any public officer, private individual, financial institution, intermediary or other person or entity that may have facilitated, enabled or participated in the alleged scheme.
The President further directed the Commission to identify any weaknesses in government and institutional procedures that may have been exploited and to recommend immediate measures to prevent the recurrence of similar abuses.
All ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government have been directed to provide the ICPC, upon lawful request, with all relevant information, records and assistance required for the expeditious completion of the investigation.
Tinubu stated that the integrity of the Presidency and the institutions of the Federal Government must be protected against impersonation, forgery, abuse of official identity and the exploitation of weaknesses in the public service.
All persons found culpable are to be treated strictly in accordance with applicable law, he said.