President Bola Tinubu has widened the investigation into the fake Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), ordering the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to examine the role of public officers, financial institutions and other individuals who may have helped the alleged scheme.
Tinubu on Tuesday directed the Commission to submit its report within 30 days. The order shifts attention beyond the alleged impersonator. It seeks to determine whether government workers, banks or private individuals helped a non-existent government body appear genuine and carry out activities reserved for lawful public institutions.
The Presidency said the PFIPC was never created by the Federal Government. It said the body had no legal backing, presidential approval or executive authority.
It was said that a man named Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew allegedly presented himself as the Director-General of the council and falsely claimed he had been appointed by the President.
Following this, Tinubu directed the ICPC to investigate everyone who may have played a part in the alleged operation. The investigation will examine the role of any public officer, private individual, financial institution, intermediary or organisation linked to the case.
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The Commission will also investigate how forged appointment letters and other official documents were allegedly produced and used.
Another part of the inquiry will examine claims that the false presidential appointment was used to seek official recognition and diplomatic support, including visa facilitation.
The ICPC will also trace the opening and operation of multiple bank accounts said to have been created in the names of supposed government agencies. It will examine how the accounts were opened, where any money came from and how the funds were moved.
This broad approach shows that the investigation is no longer limited to one person. It will seek to establish whether others knowingly or unknowingly helped the alleged scheme succeed.
Tinubu also directed the Commission to determine how a fictitious organisation gained an appearance of official legitimacy.
That part of the investigation will focus on the systems that may have allowed forged documents and false claims to pass through official channels without being detected.
If the investigation finds weaknesses in government procedures, the ICPC has been instructed to recommend immediate steps to stop similar cases in the future.
The Presidency has directed all ministries, departments and agencies to cooperate fully with the Commission. They are expected to provide documents, records and any other lawful assistance needed to complete the investigation within the deadline.
The inquiry is expected to show whether existing checks for verifying appointments, official documents and government agencies are strong enough or whether changes are needed.
Tinubu said the integrity of the Presidency and Federal Government institutions must be protected from impersonation, forgery, abuse of official identity and the exploitation of weaknesses in the public service. He also directed that anyone found culpable should face the law.