By Hosanna Eseose
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to launch a comprehensive investigation into the activities of a fictitious body known as the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), ordering that the probe be concluded within 30 days.
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.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the investigation will focus on the activities of one Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who allegedly presented himself as the Director-General of the non-existent council and falsely claimed to be a presidential appointee.
The President directed the ICPC to investigate the alleged forgery of appointment letters and other official government documents, as well as claims that the suspect used the false presidential appointment to seek official recognition, diplomatic support, including visa facilitation, and opened multiple bank accounts in the names of purported government agencies using allegedly forged documents.
President Tinubu also instructed the anti-corruption agency to widen the scope of the investigation to uncover any collaborators and determine how the fictitious organisation was able to gain an appearance of legitimacy.
The probe will examine the origin and use of the alleged forged documents, the processes through which official recognition or diplomatic support may have been obtained, the opening and operation of related bank accounts, the movement of any funds involved, and the possible involvement of public officials, private individuals, financial institutions or intermediaries.
In addition, the President directed the commission to identify weaknesses in government procedures that may have been exploited and recommend immediate measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
To ensure a thorough investigation, all ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government have been instructed to provide the ICPC with all relevant records, information and assistance required upon lawful request.
President Tinubu stressed that the integrity of the Presidency and federal institutions must be protected against impersonation, forgery, abuse of official identity and other fraudulent activities, adding that anyone found culpable should face the full weight of the law.