Just In: Tinubu Gives ICPC 30 Days To Investigate ‘Fake’ Presidential Council
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the activities of a purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), directing the anti-graft agency to submit its comprehensive report within 30 days.
The directive was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by Bayo Onanuga, the special adviser to the president on information and strategy.
According to a statement, the directive followed the discovery that the council led by Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew “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.”
Onanuga said as part of the investigation, the ICPC is expected to probe the alleged forgery of appointment letters and other official 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 investigate not only the activities of the principal suspect and his collaborators but also the broader circumstances that allowed the fictitious organisation to appear legitimate.
The investigation will examine the origin and use of forged official documents, the processes through which official recognition or diplomatic support may have been sought or obtained, the opening and operation of related bank accounts, the source and movement of funds, and the role of any public official, private individual, financial institution, intermediary or other entity that may have facilitated the alleged scheme.
In addition, the President ordered the ICPC to identify institutional weaknesses that may have been exploited and recommend immediate measures to prevent a recurrence of similar abuses.
To facilitate the investigation, all ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government have been directed to provide the commission, upon lawful request, with all relevant information, records and assistance needed to complete the assignment within the stipulated timeframe.
Emphasising the seriousness of the matter, Tinubu declared 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 President further ordered that “all persons found culpable be treated strictly in accordance with applicable law.”