President Bola Tinubu has ordered a comprehensive probe into the activities of a fraudulent entity operating under the name “Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council” (PFIPC).
The President directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to spearhead the investigation into the fictitious body.
The mandate requires the anti-graft agency to conclude its findings and submit a full report directly to the President within 30 days.
The directive was officially communicated in a statement released on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the presidency, the swift action follows the uncovering of the PFIPC, an organization that was never established by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The statement emphasized that the council has absolutely no basis in any existing law, presidential instrument, executive approval, or any other lawful act of government.
At the center of the syndicate is an individual identified as Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who reportedly paraded himself as the Director-General of the non-existent council.
Matthew is alleged to have falsely claimed to be a presidential appointee, using the fabricated position to deceive unsuspecting entities and officials.
The ICPC’s investigation will deeply examine a web of alleged criminal activities tied to the group. Key areas of focus include the forgery of official government documents and appointment letters, as well as the use of the fake presidential appointment to secure official recognition, diplomatic support, and visa facilitations.
Furthermore, the agency will track multiple bank accounts opened under the guise of purported government agencies using these allegedly forged documents.
In addition to prosecuting the immediate actors, President Tinubu has instructed the ICPC to investigate the broader circumstances that allowed such a fictitious body to falsely acquire the appearance of official legitimacy.
The presidency maintained a zero-tolerance stance on the matter, with President Tinubu directing that all individuals found culpable in the scam be prosecuted strictly in accordance with applicable laws.
