Tinubu Orders ICPC to Probe Fake Presidential Council, Sets 30-Day Deadline
By Waliu Adetokun, Osogbo
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the activities of a fake body operating under the name Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), giving the anti-corruption agency 30 days to submit its findings.
The directive came after the Federal Government uncovered that the PFIPC was never established by the government and has no legal or official backing.
A statement issued on Monday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the council “has no basis in any law, presidential instrument, executive approval or any other lawful act of government.”
According to the statement, one Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew allegedly paraded himself as the Director-General of the council and falsely claimed to be a presidential appointee.
The Presidency said the ICPC would investigate the alleged forgery of appointment letters and other government documents, the use of false claims of presidential appointment to obtain official recognition and diplomatic support, including visa facilitation, as well as the opening of multiple bank accounts in the names of purported government agencies using allegedly forged documents.
The President also directed the commission to investigate not only the activities of the principal suspect and his collaborators but also the circumstances that enabled the fictitious council to project itself as a legitimate government body.
The probe will further examine the origin and use of the alleged forged documents, the process through which official recognition or diplomatic support may have been sought or obtained, the operation of related bank accounts, the source and movement of funds, and the roles played by any public officials, private individuals, financial institutions or intermediaries connected with the alleged scheme.
Tinubu also instructed the ICPC to identify weaknesses in government and institutional procedures that may have been exploited and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The President directed all ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government to cooperate fully with the commission by providing all relevant information and records required to facilitate the investigation.
“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 quoted the President as saying.
He further directed that “all persons found culpable be treated strictly in accordance with applicable law.”