President Bola Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the activities of the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) and all issues surrounding claims of forged government appointments.
The directive, announced on Tuesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, requires the anti-corruption agency to conclude its investigation and submit a comprehensive report within 30 days.
According to the Presidency, the PFIPC is a fictitious organisation that was never established by the Federal Government through any law, executive approval or official instrument.
The statement identified Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew as the individual who allegedly presented himself as the Director-General of the council and falsely claimed to be a presidential appointee.
The ICPC has been tasked with investigating alleged forged appointment letters and other official government documents, claims of presidential appointment used 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 probe will also examine the activities of Adeyemi, other collaborators, and any circumstances that may have enabled the non-existent council to gain an appearance of official legitimacy.
Investigators are expected to scrutinise the origin and use of forged documents, the process through which official recognition or diplomatic support may have been obtained, the opening and operation of related bank accounts, the source and movement of funds, and the roles of public officials, private individuals, financial institutions or intermediaries linked to the alleged scheme.
President Tinubu also directed the commission to identify institutional weaknesses that may have been exploited and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents.
All Ministries, Departments and Agencies have been instructed to cooperate fully with the ICPC by providing relevant records and information upon lawful request.
The President stressed that the integrity of the Presidency and other federal institutions must be protected against impersonation, forgery and abuse of official identity, directing that anyone found culpable should face the full weight of the law.
The controversy centres on Adeyemi, who insists he was lawfully appointed Director-General of the PFIPC despite the Presidency’s repeated insistence that the council does not exist.
Adeyemi had accused the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, of receiving ₦400 million through a proxy and demanding an additional ₦200 million to facilitate his appointment. He also argued that the PFIPC’s appearance in the 2026 Appropriation Act supports his claim that the council exists.
The Presidency, however, described Adeyemi as an impostor, alleging that he forged appointment documents, impersonated a government official, fraudulently opened a Central Bank of Nigeria account and operated under a non-existent government agency.
Police have since filed an eight-count criminal charge against Adeyemi and two others, with the case scheduled for hearing on July 27.
Meanwhile, Gbajabiamila has threatened a ₦10 billion defamation suit against Adeyemi over allegations of bribery and murder, demanding a public retraction and apology within 72 hours or face legal action.