President Bola Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the operations of a purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), describing the body as a fictitious organisation with no legal backing.
The directive, announced on Tuesday in a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, requires the anti-corruption agency to conclude its investigation and submit a comprehensive report within 30 days.
According to the Presidency, the PFIPC was never created by the federal government and has no foundation in any law, executive approval, presidential instrument or other legitimate government action.
The statement alleged that one Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew falsely claimed to be the Director-General of the council and presented himself as a presidential appointee.
President Tinubu directed the ICPC to investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged operation of the fake council, including the use of forged appointment letters and other official government documents.
The investigation will also examine allegations that false claims of presidential appointment were used to obtain official recognition, diplomatic support and visa facilitation, as well as the opening of multiple bank accounts in the names of purported government agencies using allegedly forged documents.
Beyond the activities of the principal suspect and his associates, the President instructed the commission to determine how the alleged scheme was carried out and identify all individuals or organisations that may have played a role.
According to the Presidency, investigators are expected to examine the origin and use of the forged documents, the processes through which official recognition or diplomatic assistance may have been sought, the opening and operation of related bank accounts, the movement of funds connected to the alleged scheme, and the involvement of any public officials, financial institutions, intermediaries or private individuals who may have facilitated the activities.
Tinubu also directed the ICPC to identify any weaknesses in government procedures that may have enabled the alleged fraud and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The President further instructed all ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government to cooperate fully with the commission by providing all relevant information and assistance required for the investigation.
Emphasising the need to safeguard public institutions, the Presidency 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.”
The president also ordered that anyone found culpable should face the full weight of the law.
The directive comes weeks after Adeyemi, during a press conference on June 25, made a series of allegations against the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Adeyemi, who is currently facing criminal charges over his alleged role in operating the council, claimed that Gbajabiamila demanded a 48 per cent share of the council’s purported N27.4 billion take-off grant, amounting to about N12.5 billion.
He further alleged that the Chief of Staff received N400 million through proxies in relation to appointments linked to the entity, abused his office, manipulated budget processes, intimidated individuals and media organisations, sought to misuse security agencies and participated in a cover-up.
Gbajabiamila has, however, denied all the allegations through his lawyer, Kemi Pinheiro.
He maintained that he never had any dealings with Adeyemi and threatened to institute a N10 billion defamation suit over claims linking him to bribery, murder and other criminal offences.
