President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the activities of a fictitious body known as the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC),
The President ordered the anti-graft agency to submit its report within 30 days.
According to a State House 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 or executive instrument.
The statement 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 bordering on the forgery of appointment letters and other official government documents, the use of a false claim of presidential appointment to obtain 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 instructed the commission to investigate the roles of other collaborators and examine how the fictitious organisation was able to create the appearance of official legitimacy.
According to the statement, the investigation will cover the origin and use of the alleged forged documents, efforts made to secure official recognition or diplomatic support, the opening and operation of related bank accounts, the source and movement of funds and the involvement of any public officials, private individuals, financial institutions or intermediaries linked to the alleged scheme.
Tinubu further directed the ICPC to identify loopholes in government and institutional procedures that may have been exploited and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
He also ordered all ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government to cooperate fully with the commission by providing all relevant records and information required for the investigation.
The President stressed that the integrity of the Presidency and government institutions must be protected against impersonation, forgery, abuse of official identity and other fraudulent activities, adding that anyone found culpable should be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
