President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to launch a full-scale investigation into the “Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council” (PFIPC), which the Presidency has described as a fictitious body used to impersonate presidential authority.
The directive was issued barely two weeks after Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew held a fiery press conference accusing Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, of involvement in the same council.
In a press statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, President Tinubu has given the ICPC 30 days to conclude the investigation and submit a comprehensive report to him.
According to a State House press release, the 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 statement noted that Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew presented himself as the Director-General of the so-called council and falsely claimed to be a presidential appointee.
The ICPC has been tasked with investigating the forged appointment letters and other official government documents, as well as the use of false claims of presidential appointment to seek or obtain official recognition and diplomatic support, including visa facilitation.
The probe will also examine the opening of multiple bank accounts in the names of purported government agencies using allegedly forged documents, the source and movement of any funds involved, and the role of any public officers, private individuals, financial institutions, intermediaries or other persons who may have facilitated or participated in the alleged scheme.
President Tinubu further directed the Commission to examine the wider circumstances that enabled the fictitious body and false claim of presidential appointment to acquire an appearance of official legitimacy, and to identify weaknesses in government and institutional procedures that may have been exploited, with recommendations to prevent future occurrences.
All ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government have been directed to cooperate fully with the ICPC by providing all relevant information and records upon request.
“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,” President Tinubu stated. He directed that all persons found culpable be treated strictly in accordance with applicable law.
The swift presidential directive marks an official response to the controversy sparked by Matthew’s recent press conference, during which he had demanded an independent panel while levelling serious allegations against the Chief of Staff.
