Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
President Bola Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the activities of a purported "Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council" (PFIPC), describing the body as fictitious and lacking any legal or constitutional basis. The directive, announced in a State House statement on Tuesday, 7 July 2026, by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, also mandated the anti-graft agency to submit a comprehensive report of its findings within 30 days.
The investigation follows the discovery that the PFIPC was never established by the Federal Government and has no basis in any law, presidential instrument, executive approval, or other lawful act of government, according to the presidency. The directive also comes amid allegations that one Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew falsely presented himself as the Director-General of the non-existent council and claimed to be a presidential appointee.
President Tinubu instructed the ICPC to investigate the alleged forgery of appointment letters and other official government documents linked to the fake council, as well as the use of the false claim of presidential appointment to obtain official recognition, diplomatic support, and visa facilitation. The investigation will also examine the opening of multiple bank accounts in the names of purported government agencies using allegedly forged documents.
Beyond the conduct of the principal suspect, the President directed the ICPC to investigate 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 probe will 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 entity that may have facilitated, enabled, or participated in the alleged scheme.
President Tinubu further directed the ICPC 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 been directed to provide the ICPC, upon lawful request, with all relevant information, records, and assistance required for the expeditious completion of the investigation.
In his directive, the President 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 at the conclusion of the investigation be treated strictly in accordance with applicable law.
The PFIPC controversy has dominated public discourse in recent weeks after it emerged that the council received a N1.3 billion allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Act, despite the presidency insisting that the council does not exist. The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, had earlier issued a public disclaimer on 11 June 2026, informing foreign missions, financial institutions, and international organisations that the PFIPC had no official status and that no appointment had been made under its name. However, Adeyemi has insisted that he was legitimately appointed and has called for an independent investigation into the activities of the two agencies, pointing to the budget allocation as evidence of their existence.
The controversy has also drawn reactions from opposition figures, with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar condemning the arrest of Adeyemi's father by the police and accusing the government of abuse of power. The Senate has distanced itself from the controversy, stating that it has received no petition on the matter to warrant legislative intervention. Meanwhile, the Oyo State Police Command has confirmed that the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in Abuja is handling the investigation, while the police have also launched a manhunt for Adeyemi and have questioned his father in Ogbomoso.
As the ICPC begins its investigation, the President's directive to probe the fake council and its collaborators is seen as a significant step towards protecting the integrity of public institutions and holding those responsible for the alleged fraud accountable. The commission is expected to submit its report within the stipulated 30-day timeframe, and the outcome of the investigation could have far-reaching implications for all those implicated in the scandal.
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