Tinubu Orders ICPC Probe Into Alleged Fake Presidential Council, Gives 30-Day Deadline

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to launch a comprehensive investigation into the activities of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), describing the body as a fictitious organisation with no legal existence under the Federal Government.

The President ordered the anti-corruption agency to conclude its investigation within 30 days and submit a comprehensive report to him.

The directive was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the President's Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

According to the Presidency, the PFIPC was never established by the Federal Government and has no legal foundation in any Act of Parliament, presidential instrument, executive approval or any other lawful government action.

The statement identified Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew as the individual who allegedly presented himself as the Director-General of the purported council while falsely claiming to be a presidential appointee.

President Tinubu directed the ICPC to investigate the alleged forgery of appointment letters and other official government documents linked to the council.

The investigation will also examine allegations that the false claim of presidential appointment was 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, the President instructed the ICPC to identify and investigate any collaborators and determine how a non-existent government body was able to project an appearance of official legitimacy.

According to the directive, investigators are expected to establish the origin and use of the alleged forged official documents, examine the circumstances under which any official recognition or diplomatic assistance may have been sought or obtained, and trace the opening and operation of any bank accounts connected to the alleged scheme.

The commission will also investigate the source and movement of any funds associated with the matter and determine whether any public officials, private individuals, financial institutions, intermediaries or other entities played roles in facilitating or enabling the alleged activities.

President Tinubu further instructed the ICPC to identify weaknesses within government systems and institutional procedures that may have been exploited and recommend immediate reforms to prevent similar incidents in the future.

To facilitate the investigation, all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government have been directed to provide the commission with all relevant documents, records and assistance required whenever lawfully requested.

The President stressed that the integrity of the Presidency and government institutions must be safeguarded against impersonation, forgery, abuse of official identity and any attempt to exploit weaknesses within the public service.

He also directed that anyone found culpable at the conclusion of the investigation should be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law.

The latest directive comes amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the purported PFIPC, which has attracted public attention following allegations that forged presidential documents were used to project the existence of a government agency that the Presidency insists was never legally created.