President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to launch a comprehensive investigation into the activities of the controversial entity known as the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), which the Federal Government has declared to be fictitious.
The President also instructed the anti-corruption agency to conclude its investigation within 30 days and submit a detailed report on its findings, signaling a decisive move by the administration to unravel the circumstances surrounding the alleged impersonation of government authority and the use of forged official documents.
The directive was contained in a State House press statement issued on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the Presidency, the investigation follows the discovery that the PFIPC was never established by the Federal Government and has no legal foundation under any existing law, presidential directive, executive approval or other lawful instrument of government.
Despite lacking any official recognition, the organisation allegedly operated under the guise of a federal government agency, with one Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew presenting himself as its Director-General and claiming to have been appointed by President Tinubu.
The Presidency stated that the ICPC has been mandated to conduct an extensive investigation into all aspects of the alleged scheme, including the use of forged government documents and the impersonation of presidential authority.
Among the major issues the Commission is expected to investigate are the alleged forgery of presidential appointment letters and other official government documents purportedly used to establish the PFIPC’s legitimacy.
The anti-graft agency will also examine allegations that the false claim of presidential appointment was used to obtain official recognition from government institutions and to facilitate diplomatic engagements, including visa processing and other official privileges.
Another key aspect of the investigation will focus on the alleged opening of multiple bank accounts in the names of purported government agencies using what the Presidency described as forged documentation.
President Tinubu further directed that the investigation should extend beyond the actions of the principal suspect to include all individuals or groups who may have participated in, enabled or facilitated the alleged activities.
According to the statement, the ICPC is expected to determine how a non-existent government body was able to acquire what appeared to be official legitimacy and operate publicly without immediate detection.
The Commission has also been tasked with investigating the origin, preparation and use of all allegedly forged official documents connected with the matter.
In addition, investigators are expected to scrutinise the procedures through which official recognition, diplomatic support and institutional acceptance may have been sought or obtained by those behind the purported council.
The Presidency further instructed the ICPC to investigate the establishment and operation of any bank accounts linked to the alleged scheme, trace the source and movement of funds connected with the accounts and determine whether public resources were involved.
The investigation will also examine the roles played by any public officials, private individuals, financial institutions, intermediaries or organisations that may have knowingly or unknowingly facilitated the alleged activities.
Beyond establishing criminal liability, President Tinubu directed the Commission to identify any weaknesses or loopholes within government institutions and administrative procedures that may have been exploited by those behind the alleged operation.
The President said recommendations should be made for immediate reforms capable of preventing similar abuses of government processes in the future.
As part of the directive, all ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government have been instructed to cooperate fully with the ICPC by providing all relevant records, documents, information and other forms of assistance required for the timely completion of the investigation.
The Presidency stressed that such cooperation would ensure a thorough and credible inquiry into the matter within the stipulated 30-day period.
President Tinubu reiterated that safeguarding the integrity and credibility of the Presidency and other public institutions remains a fundamental responsibility of his administration.
He emphasised that acts of impersonation, forgery, abuse of official identity and exploitation of weaknesses within the public service pose serious threats to public confidence in government institutions and must not be tolerated.
The President therefore directed that any individual found culpable after the investigation should be dealt with strictly in accordance with the provisions of Nigerian law.
The directive marks the latest development in the unfolding controversy surrounding the PFIPC, whose activities have generated widespread public attention following allegations that it operated for an extended period while presenting itself as a legitimate federal government agency.
The outcome of the ICPC investigation is expected to clarify the circumstances surrounding the alleged scheme, establish whether public institutions were compromised in the process and recommend measures aimed at strengthening institutional safeguards against future cases of forgery, impersonation and abuse of official processes.
