President Bola Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the activities of the “Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC)”, which the federal government said was never established.
Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, disclosed in a statement dated 7 July 2026 that the president ordered the anti-graft agency to conclude the investigation and submit a comprehensive report within 30 days.
According to the statement, the directive followed the discovery that the PFIPC was a fictitious body with no legal basis, presidential approval, executive instrument or any lawful authorisation from the federal government.
“One Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew presented himself as the Director-General of the so-called PFIPC and falsely claimed to be a presidential appointee,” the statement reads.
“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.”
Tinubu also 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,” it said.
The president further directed the commission to identify weaknesses in government and institutional procedures that may have been exploited and recommend measures to prevent similar occurrences.
The statement said all ministries, departments and agencies of the federal government had been instructed to provide the ICPC with all relevant information, records and assistance required to ensure the investigation is completed promptly whenever lawfully requested.
According to the statement, Tinubu said, “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 also directed that all persons found culpable should be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the law.
