From David Onuoja, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu, has ordered the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to with immediate effect, investigate the activities of a purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), describing the institution as fictitious and unknown to the Federal Government.
The directive which was contained in a statement issued yesterday, by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the President had given the anti-graft agency 30 days to conclude its investigation and submit a comprehensive report.
According to the statement, the investigation follows the discovery of the so-called PFIPC which was never created by the Federal Government and has no legal backing, neither presidential approval or executive instrument establishing its existence.
The statement alleged that one, Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, falsely presented himself as the Director-General of the non-existent council and claimed to be a presidential appointee.
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Among the issues President Tinubu directed the ICPC to investigate are the alleged forged appointment letters and official government documents, the use of a false claim of 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.
The President also ordered the anti-corruption agency to widen its investigation beyond the principal suspect to uncover every individual or institution that may have played a role in giving legitimacy to the alleged fraudulent scheme.
The statement further revealed that, the investigation will 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.”
It also directed the ICPC to identify loopholes in government procedures that may have been exploited and recommend immediate safeguards to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Presidency also instructed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), to cooperate fully with the commission by providing all relevant records, information and assistance required for the investigation.
The presidency however, reaffirmed its administration’s commitment to accountability, stressing that the sanctity of the Presidency and public institutions must be protected against fraud and impersonation.
“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.
It equally directed that everyone found culpable at the end of the investigation would face the full weight of the law.
“All persons found culpable be treated strictly in accordance with applicable law,” the statement directed.
