President Bola Tinubu has ordered the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to launch a full-scale investigation into the activities of the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), describing the body as a fictitious organisation with no legal backing.
The directive, contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, mandates the anti-graft agency to conclude its investigation and submit a comprehensive report within 30 days.
According to the Presidency, the so-called council was never created by the Federal Government and has no legal or executive foundation.
“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 read.
The Presidency alleged that one Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew falsely paraded himself as the Director-General of the council while claiming to be a presidential appointee.
Among the issues slated for investigation are “the forged appointment letters and other official government documents; the use of a false claim of presidential appointment to seek or obtain official recognition and diplomatic support, including visa facilitation; and the opening of multiple bank accounts in the names of purported government agencies using allegedly forged documents.”
The ICPC has also been directed to investigate not only the activities of the principal suspect and his alleged collaborators but also the wider circumstances that enabled the scheme.
“The investigation is to examine the provenance and use of false official documents; the processes through which official recognition or diplomatic support may have been sought or obtained; the opening and operation of any related bank accounts; the source and movement of any funds involved; and the role of any public officer, private individual, financial institution, intermediary or other person or entity that may have facilitated, enabled or participated in the alleged scheme,” it stated.
Tinubu further directed investigators to identify loopholes in government procedures that may have been exploited and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence.
He also instructed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to cooperate fully with the ICPC by providing all necessary information and support.
“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 statement stated.
The President further ordered “that all persons found culpable be treated strictly in accordance with applicable law.”
The directive comes amid an ongoing controversy involving Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who, during a June 25 press conference, alleged that the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, demanded a 48 per cent share of the council’s purported ₦27.4 billion take-off grant—about ₦12.5 billion.
Adeyemi also accused Gbajabiamila of receiving ₦400 million through proxies in connection with appointments linked to the entity, abusing his office, intimidating individuals and media organisations, manipulating budget processes, attempting to misuse security agencies and participating in a cover-up.
Gbajabiamila, through his lawyer, Kemi Pinheiro, has strongly denied the allegations, insisting he has never had any dealings with Adeyemi. He has also threatened a ₦10 billion defamation suit over claims linking him to bribery, murder and other criminal offences.
