BREAKING: Tinubu orders ICPC to probe alleged PFIPC fraud, submit report in 30 days

BREAKING: Tinubu orders ICPC to probe alleged PFIPC fraud, submit report in 30 days

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to launch a comprehensive investigation into the activities of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), ordering the anti-graft agency to conclude its probe and submit a report within 30 days.

The directive, announced on Tuesday in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, followed what the Presidency described as the discovery that the PFIPC was never legally established by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

According to the Presidency, investigations revealed that the organisation has “no basis in any law, presidential instrument, executive approval or any other lawful act of government,” raising serious concerns over alleged impersonation, forgery and abuse of official government identity.

The statement alleged that one Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew falsely presented himself as the Director-General of the organisation and claimed to be a presidential appointee despite lacking any legal authority to hold such a position.

As part of the investigation, President Tinubu directed the ICPC to examine allegations bordering on the forgery of appointment letters and other official government documents allegedly used to portray the organisation as a legitimate federal institution.

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The Commission is also expected to investigate claims that the alleged false presidential appointment was used to obtain official recognition, diplomatic support and visa facilitation from government institutions and foreign missions.

In addition, the anti-corruption agency will probe the opening and operation of multiple bank accounts in the names of purported government agencies using allegedly forged documents.

According to the Presidency, the investigation will go beyond document forgery to uncover the full scope of the alleged operation.

The ICPC has been mandated to determine the origin and use of the alleged forged official documents, establish how official recognition or diplomatic support may have been obtained, trace the opening and operation of bank accounts linked to the organisation, and investigate the source and movement of any funds connected to the alleged scheme.

The Commission is also expected to identify the roles played by any public officials, private individuals, financial institutions, intermediaries or other entities that may have facilitated, enabled or participated in the alleged activities.

President Tinubu further directed investigators to examine the circumstances that allowed the purported organisation and the alleged false claim of presidential appointment to appear credible to members of the public and government institutions.

The Presidency said the investigation should identify institutional loopholes or procedural weaknesses that may have been exploited and recommend reforms to prevent similar incidents in the future.

To ensure a thorough investigation, all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government have been instructed to cooperate fully with the ICPC by providing all relevant records, documents and other information whenever lawfully requested.

President Tinubu stressed that protecting the credibility and integrity of the Presidency and other government institutions remains a top priority.

“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 President said.

He also directed that all persons found culpable after the investigation should be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law.

The directive comes amid heightened scrutiny over the alleged activities of the purported organisation and signals the administration’s determination to safeguard government institutions from fraudulent representations and abuse of public trust.

The ICPC is expected to submit its findings to the Presidency within the stipulated 30-day period, after which appropriate administrative, civil or criminal actions may be taken against anyone found to have violated the law.

BREAKING: Tinubu orders ICPC to probe alleged PFIPC fraud, submit report in 30 days