By RhemDy News
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to conduct a thorough investigation into the activities of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) and all related matters.
A statement on Tuesday by presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, said the the President directed that the report of the investigation must be submitted to him within 30 days.
The statement noted that the directive follows the discovery of the 'fictitious' PFIPC, which he said was never established by the Federal Government of Nigeria and has no basis in any law, presidential instrument, executive approval, or other lawful act of Government.
He noted that One Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew had presented himself as the Director-General of the agency falsely claiming to be a presidential appointee.
The presidential directive mandated the ICPC to investigate the alleged forged appointment letters and other official government documents, use of 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 further 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.
Further to that, the investigation is also 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.
The President 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.
All ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government have also been directed to provide the ICPC, upon lawful request, with all relevant information, records and assistance required for the expeditious completion of the investigation.
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.
He also directed that all persons found culpable be treated strictly in accordance with applicable law.
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