President Bola Tinubu has ordered the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, to probe the activities of Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.
He directed that the investigation be concluded and a report submitted within 30 days, his media aide, Bayo Onanuga sad in a statement on Tuesday.
The PFIPC is not a government agency and has no legal backing, it said, wondering why Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew paraded himself as the boss of the council and made false claims of presidential appointment.
According to the statement, the ICPC will investigate forged documents, false claims, and illegal bank accounts opened in the name of the fake agency.
Tinubu 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 statement quoted that 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.
He further directed the Commission to identify any weaknesses in government and institutional procedures that may have been exploited and to recommend immediate measures to prevent the recurrence of similar abuses.
The statement added: “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 required for the expeditious completion of the investigation.
“President Tinubu stated 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 directed that all persons found culpable be treated strictly in accordance with applicable law.”
