President gives 30-day deadline, warns against impersonation of presidency_
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, to investigate the activities of a fictitious group parading itself as the “Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council,” PFIPC.
In a State House press release signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President ordered the Commission to conclude the investigation and submit a comprehensive report within 30 days.
According to the statement, the so-called PFIPC was never established by the Federal Government and has “no basis in any law, presidential instrument, executive approval, or other lawful act of Government.”
*Fake DG and Forged Documents*
The President’s directive followed revelations that one Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew presented himself as the Director-General of the non-existent PFIPC and falsely claimed to be a presidential appointee.
ICPC has been tasked to probe several allegations including:
– Forged appointment letters and other official government documents
– Use of false claims of presidential appointment to seek official recognition and diplomatic support, including visa facilitation
– Opening of multiple bank accounts in the names of purported government agencies using allegedly forged documents
*Scope of Investigation*
President Tinubu directed the ICPC to go beyond the principal suspect and also examine collaborators and the circumstances that allowed a fictitious body to “acquire an appearance of official legitimacy.”
Specifically, the Commission is to investigate the source and use of false official documents; how official recognition or diplomatic support was sought or obtained; the opening and operation of related bank accounts; the source and movement of funds; and the role of any public officer, private individual, financial institution, intermediary or entity that may have facilitated the scheme.
The President also charged ICPC to identify weaknesses in government and institutional procedures that may have been exploited and to recommend immediate measures to prevent a recurrence.
*MDAs Ordered to Cooperate*
All Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government have been directed to provide the ICPC, upon lawful request, with all relevant information, records and assistance to ensure the investigation is completed expeditiously.
“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,” President Tinubu stated.
He further directed that “all persons found culpable be treated strictly in accordance with applicable law.”
The investigation comes amid growing concerns over the use of fake government bodies to defraud citizens and international partners.
