President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to launch a thorough investigation into a fraudulent body operating under the name “Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council” (PFIPC), amid mounting concerns over impersonation and abuse of official identity within government circles.
This is contained in a statement issued on Monday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
According to the statement, the President directed that the investigation be concluded and a comprehensive report submitted to him within 30 days.
The directive follows the discovery that the PFIPC is entirely fictitious — never established by the Federal Government and possessing no basis in any law, presidential instrument, executive approval, or other lawful act of government.
The statement identified one Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew as having presented himself as Director-General of the bogus council, falsely claiming to be a presidential appointee.
Among the issues to be probed by the ICPC are forged appointment letters and other official government documents; the use of false presidential appointment claims to seek diplomatic support and visa facilitation; and the opening of multiple bank accounts in the names of purported government agencies using allegedly forged documents.
President Tinubu directed the ICPC to look beyond the conduct of the principal suspect and any collaborators to examine the broader circumstances that allowed a fictitious body to acquire an appearance of official legitimacy.
The probe is expected to cover the provenance and use of false official documents; how official recognition or diplomatic support may have been obtained; the opening and operation of related bank accounts; the source and movement of any funds involved; and the role of any public officer, private individual, financial institution, or intermediary who may have facilitated or participated in the scheme.
The President also directed the Commission to identify weaknesses in government and institutional procedures that may have been exploited, and to recommend immediate measures to prevent similar abuses from recurring.
All ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government have been directed to provide the ICPC with all relevant information, records and assistance required for the expeditious completion of the investigation, upon lawful request.
President Tinubu stated that 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.
He directed that all persons found culpable be treated strictly in accordance with applicable law. #Securitynewsalert.com
