Tinubu Gives ICPC 30 Days To Probe Alleged Fake Presidential Council

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to conclude, within 30 days, an investigation into the activities of an alleged fictitious body known as the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).

The directive, contained in a State House statement issued on Tuesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, also requires the anti-corruption agency to submit a comprehensive report at the end of the investigation.

According to the statement, the alleged PFIPC “was never established by the Federal Government of Nigeria and has no basis in any law, presidential instrument, executive approval, or other lawful act of Government.”

The Presidency said one Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew allegedly presented himself as the Director-General of the organisation and falsely claimed to be a presidential appointee.

Among the issues listed for investigation are alleged forged appointment letters and other official government documents, the alleged use of a false claim of presidential appointment to seek or 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 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.”

According to the statement, the investigation will 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.”

President Tinubu further directed the Commission to identify any weaknesses in government and institutional procedures that may have been exploited and recommend immediate measures to prevent similar incidents.

The statement added that all ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government had been directed to provide the ICPC, upon lawful request, with all relevant information, records and assistance required for the expeditious completion of the investigation.

Emphasising the need to safeguard public institutions, the President 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.”

He also directed that all persons found culpable at the conclusion of the investigation be treated strictly in accordance with applicable law.