By Ayodele Oni
President Bola Tinubu has spoken for the first time on the controversies trailing the existence of Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
He has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the activities of the so-called PFIPC, which he described as a fictitious organisation with no legal backing.
The President ordered the anti-graft agency to conclude its investigation and submit a comprehensive report within 30 days.
The directive, confirmed on Tuesday by presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, 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 instrument.
According to the Presidency, one Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew falsely presented himself as the Director-General of the organisation and claimed to be a presidential appointee.
Among the issues the ICPC has been mandated to investigate are the alleged forgery of appointment letters and other government documents, the use of a false 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.
President Tinubu also directed the Commission to uncover the full scope of the alleged fraud, including the roles of collaborators, public officials, financial institutions, intermediaries and any other individuals or entities that may have facilitated the scheme.
The probe will further examine how the fake organisation managed to project an appearance of official legitimacy, trace the source and movement of funds, and identify loopholes in government procedures that may have been exploited.
The President ordered all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to cooperate fully with the ICPC by providing all relevant records and information required to ensure the investigation is completed without delay.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to accountability, President Tinubu said the integrity of the Presidency and federal institutions must be protected against impersonation, forgery, abuse of official identity and other fraudulent activities.
He directed that anyone found culpable should face the full weight of the law.
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