President Bola Tinubu has ordered the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the activities of a controversial body known as the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), following claims that the organisation was never legally created by the Federal Government.
President Tinubu has given the anti-corruption agency 30 days to complete its investigation and submit a detailed report.
The directive comes after the Presidency declared that the PFIPC has no legal backing, executive approval or official status. Furthermore, the investigation is expected to uncover how forged documents and false claims of presidential appointment were allegedly used to gain credibility.
The directive was announced in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the statement, the Presidency described the PFIPC as a fictitious organisation that was never established by the Federal Government.
It further alleged that one Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew falsely presented himself as the Director-General of the council while claiming to be a presidential appointee.
According to the Presidency, the ICPC has been directed to investigate allegations involving forged appointment letters and other government documents.
The commission will also examine claims that false presidential appointments were allegedly used to obtain official recognition and diplomatic support, including visa facilitation.
In addition, investigators have been asked to examine the opening of multiple bank accounts in the names of alleged government agencies using suspected forged documents.
According to the statement, “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.”
Meanwhile, the Presidency said the investigation would go beyond the principal suspect.
It will also examine whether any public officials, financial institutions or private individuals played roles in enabling the alleged scheme.
Furthermore, investigators have been directed to trace the source and movement of any funds connected to the matter.
The commission is also expected to identify weaknesses within government systems that may have allowed the alleged activities to continue unnoticed.
Consequently, all federal ministries, departments and agencies have been instructed to cooperate fully by providing all relevant documents requested by the ICPC.
President Tinubu also stressed the need to protect the credibility of government institutions from forgery, impersonation and abuse of official identity.
The statement added that anyone found responsible would face legal consequences.
Meanwhile, the controversy centres on Adeniyi Adeyemi, who insists he was legally appointed as Director-General of the PFIPC despite the Presidency’s position that the council does not exist.
Adeyemi had earlier accused the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, of receiving ₦400 million through a proxy and later demanding an additional ₦200 million to facilitate his appointment.
He also argued that the council was referenced in the 2026 Appropriation Act and challenged the Presidency’s denial of its existence.
However, the Presidency dismissed those claims and described Adeyemi as an impostor.
According to government officials, he allegedly forged appointment documents, impersonated a public official and fraudulently opened a Central Bank of Nigeria account using a non-existent government agency.
Police investigations have reportedly resulted in an eight-count criminal charge against Adeyemi and two others.
The matter is expected to come before the court on July 27.
In a related development, Gbajabiamila has threatened a ₦10 billion defamation lawsuit against Adeyemi over allegations of bribery and murder.
Through his lawyer, Kemi Pinheiro, the Chief of Staff demanded that Adeyemi withdraw the allegations within 72 hours.
He was also asked to publish a public apology and full retraction in at least five national newspapers and across his social media platforms.
According to the legal team, the allegations were “malicious, reckless and entirely without factual foundation.”
