President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, to investigate the activities of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, PFIPC, and submit its report within 30 days.
The directive was contained in a State House statement issued on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the Presidency, the investigation became necessary after it was discovered that the PFIPC was never established by the Federal Government and had no legal basis, presidential instrument, executive approval or any lawful act of government backing its existence.
The statement said one Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew allegedly presented himself as the Director-General of the organisation and falsely claimed to be a presidential appointee.
President Tinubu directed the ICPC to investigate the alleged forgery of appointment letters and other official government documents, as well as the alleged use of a false presidential appointment claim to obtain official recognition and diplomatic support, including visa facilitation.
The President also ordered the anti-graft agency to examine the opening of multiple bank accounts in the names of purported government agencies using allegedly forged documents.
According to the statement, the investigation will not only focus on the principal individual and alleged collaborators, but also on the circumstances that may have enabled a fictitious body and false claim of presidential appointment to acquire the appearance of official legitimacy.
The Presidency said the ICPC is expected to investigate the origin and use of the alleged false 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 officer, private individual, financial institution, intermediary or other entity that may have facilitated or participated in the alleged scheme.
Tinubu further directed the Commission to identify weaknesses in government and institutional procedures that may have been exploited, and to recommend urgent measures to prevent similar abuses in the future.
The statement added that 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 needed for the speedy completion of the investigation.
The President said the integrity of the Presidency and federal government institutions must be protected against impersonation, forgery, abuse of official identity and exploitation of weaknesses in the public service.
He also directed that all persons found culpable should be treated strictly in accordance with the law.