BREAKING: Tinubu orders ICPC probe into controversial ‘Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council’
President Directs ICPC to Investigate Fictitious Council
President Bola Tinubu has instructed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to conduct a thorough investigation into the activities of the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), which has been deemed fictitious.
This announcement was made in a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Tuesday. The President requires that the inquiry be completed, and a detailed report submitted within 30 days.
The directive follows the revelation that the PFIPC was never established by the Federal Government of Nigeria and lacks any legal basis, including presidential instruments or executive approvals. According to the statement, a man named Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew falsely presented himself as the Director-General of the PFIPC and claimed to be a presidential appointee.
The ICPC is tasked with investigating various issues, including forged appointment letters and other government documents. The investigation will also examine how the false claim of presidential appointment was used to gain official recognition and diplomatic support, such as visa facilitation, along with the establishment of bank accounts in the names of alleged government agencies using what are suspected to be forged documents.
In addition to focusing on the actions of Matthew and possible accomplices, the investigation will delve into the broader circumstances that allowed this fictitious entity to gain an appearance of legitimacy. Areas of inquiry will include the origin and usage of false official documents, the processes involved in seeking official recognition or diplomatic support, and the operation of any related bank accounts. The ICPC will also look into the sources and movement of any associated funds, as well as the roles played by public officials, private individuals, financial institutions, and other entities.
President Tinubu has emphasized the importance of identifying any weaknesses in government procedures that may have been exploited, urging the ICPC to recommend immediate corrective actions to prevent future occurrences of similar abuses.
He has directed all federal ministries, departments, and agencies to provide the ICPC with any necessary information and records to facilitate a swift investigation.
In his statement, President Tinubu underscored the need to protect the integrity of the Presidency and federal institutions from impersonation and forgery, asserting that all individuals found responsible for any wrongdoing should face appropriate legal consequences.