President Bola Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to launch a comprehensive investigation into the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), a body the Federal Government insists does not exist.
The directive was announced in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the Presidency, the PFIPC has no legal backing and was never established by the Federal Government through any law, executive approval, presidential instrument, or other lawful process.
The investigation follows allegations that Adeyemi Adeniyi Matthew falsely presented himself as the Director-General of the PFIPC and claimed to be a presidential appointee.
President Tinubu has directed the ICPC to conclude its investigation and submit a comprehensive report within 30 days.
Scope of the Investigation
The President instructed the ICPC to investigate:
- The activities of Adeyemi Adeniyi Matthew and any alleged collaborators.
- The alleged forgery of appointment letters and other government documents.
- Claims of presidential appointments allegedly used to obtain official recognition, diplomatic support, and visa facilitation.
- The opening and operation of bank accounts in the names of the purported government agencies.
- The creation and use of fraudulent government documents.
- The movement and source of funds linked to the alleged scheme.
- Whether any public officials, financial institutions, intermediaries, or private individuals aided the activities.
- Institutional weaknesses that may have allowed the alleged fraud to occur, with recommendations to prevent future occurrences.
The Presidency also directed all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to cooperate fully with the ICPC by providing all necessary records and information.
Presidency Reaffirms Zero Tolerance
The Presidency emphasized that the integrity of government institutions must be protected against impersonation, forgery, abuse of official identity, and fraudulent activities.
President Tinubu further ordered that anyone found culpable after the investigation should be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Background
The controversy gained national attention after the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, publicly denied the existence of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council and stated that no individual had been appointed to head such an agency.
However, Adeyemi Adeniyi Matthew rejected the government’s position, insisting that both the PFIPC and the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC) existed. He also alleged that references to the bodies appeared in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
Matthew further accused the Chief of Staff of demanding financial inducements in connection with his purported appointment, including allegations involving ₦400 million paid through intermediaries and an additional ₦200 million request. These allegations have not been substantiated.
The matter has since generated political reactions, with opposition figures calling for further investigations into the claims.
President Tinubu’s latest directive now places the responsibility on the ICPC to establish the facts and determine whether any criminal offences were committed.
