By Seun Ibiyemi
President Bola Ahmed 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 and submit a comprehensive report within 30 days.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to the President 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 Presidency alleged that one Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew falsely presented himself as the Director-General of the purported council and claimed to be a presidential appointee.
President Tinubu directed the ICPC to investigate allegations surrounding forged appointment letters and other official government documents allegedly used by the suspect.
The probe will also examine claims that the false presidential appointment was used to seek official recognition, diplomatic support, including visa facilitation, and the opening of multiple bank accounts in the names of purported government agencies using allegedly forged documents.
The President further instructed the commission to investigate not only the actions of the principal suspect and his collaborators but also the circumstances that enabled the fictitious organisation to assume an appearance of official legitimacy.
Specifically, the investigation will cover the origin and use of forged government documents, the processes through which official recognition or diplomatic support may have been obtained, the establishment and operation of related bank accounts, the source and movement of funds linked to the alleged scheme, and the possible involvement of public officials, private individuals, financial institutions or other intermediaries.
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Tinubu also tasked the ICPC with identifying institutional weaknesses that may have been exploited and recommending immediate measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
To facilitate the investigation, the President directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government to provide the commission with all relevant records, information and necessary assistance upon lawful request.
According to the statement, Tinubu stressed that the integrity of the Presidency and government institutions must be protected against impersonation, forgery, abuse of official identity and the exploitation of loopholes within the public service.
He further directed that anyone found culpable at the conclusion of the investigation should be dealt with in accordance with the law.
