NewsNigeriaPoliticsTinubu Gives ICPC Marching Order To Probe the PFIPC Controversy

Following PFIPCover the establishment of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), President Bola Tinubu has ordered the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) to launch a comprehensive investigation into the agency’s activities.

Tinubu gave the directive in a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the investigation be concluded and a comprehensive report submitted to him within 30 days.

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.

“The directive follows the discovery of the fictitious PFIPC, which was never established by the Federal Government of Nigeria and has no basis in any law, presidential instrument, executive approval, or other lawful act of government.

“One Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew presented himself as the Director-General of the so-called PFIPC and falsely claimed to be a presidential appointee.

“Among the issues to be investigated by the ICPC are the forged appointment letters and other official government documents; the use of a false claim of presidential appointment to seek or obtain official recognition and diplomatic support, including visa facilitation; and the opening of multiple bank accounts in the names of purported government agencies using allegedly forged documents,” the statement stated.

President Tinubu further directed the ICPC to investigate not only the conduct of the principal individual and other collaborators involved but also the wider circumstances that may have enabled a fictitious body and a false claim of presidential appointment to acquire an appearance of official legitimacy.

“The investigation is to examine the provenance and use of false official documents; the processes through which official recognition or diplomatic support may have been sought or obtained; the opening and operation of any related bank accounts; the source and movement of any funds involved; and the role of any public officer, private individual, financial institution, intermediary, or other person or entity that may have facilitated, enabled, or participated in the alleged scheme,” the statement adds.