President Bola Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the activities of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), describing the body as a fictitious entity with no legal backing or official recognition by the Federal Government.
The directive was announced in a statement on Tuesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who said the anti-corruption agency had been given 30 days to conclude its investigation and submit its findings to the Presidency.
According to the Presidency, the investigation followed the discovery that the PFIPC was never established by the Federal Government and has no basis in any law, presidential directive, executive approval or other lawful government instrument.
“The directive follows the discovery of the fictitious PFIPC, which 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 said.
The Presidency alleged that one Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew falsely presented himself as the Director-General of the council and claimed to have been appointed by President Tinubu.
It said the ICPC would investigate allegations bordering on the forgery and use of government documents, the presentation of a fake presidential appointment to secure official recognition and diplomatic support, including visa facilitation, as well as the alleged opening of multiple bank accounts in the names of government agencies using forged documents.
According to the statement, the investigation will also determine the origin and use of the alleged forged documents, the processes through which official recognition or diplomatic assistance may have been obtained, the operation of the bank accounts, the source and movement of any funds involved, and the roles of public officials, private individuals, financial institutions or other entities that may have facilitated the alleged scheme.
President Tinubu also directed the ICPC to identify any weaknesses in government systems that may have been exploited and recommend measures to prevent similar occurrences.
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 support required for the investigation.
Emphasising the need to safeguard public institutions, the Presidency said the integrity of the Presidency and other government institutions must be protected against impersonation, forgery, abuse of official identity and exploitation of weaknesses within the public service.
Tinubu also ordered that all individuals found culpable should be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The directive comes weeks after Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, during a press conference on June 25, made allegations against the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Adeyemi, who is facing criminal charges over his alleged involvement in operating what the Presidency describes as a fictitious council, claimed that Gbajabiamila demanded 48 per cent of the council’s purported N27.4 billion take-off grant, amounting to about N12.5 billion.
He also alleged that the Chief of Staff received N400 million through proxies in relation to appointments linked to the entity, abused his office, intimidated individuals and media organisations, manipulated budgetary processes, attempted to use security agencies for improper purposes and participated in efforts to conceal the alleged activities.
Gbajabiamila has denied all the allegations. Through his lawyer, Kemi Pinheiro, he maintained that he had never met or communicated with Adeyemi and warned that he would file a N10 billion defamation suit over allegations linking him to bribery, murder and other criminal offences.
