PFIPC Scandal:Tinubu Orders 30-Day Probe

Morganable Politics/Public Office

The President further directed the ICPC to determine whether any public officials, private individuals, financial institutions or intermediaries played roles in facilitating or enabling the alleged scheme

kaNo —

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday ordered a 30-day investigation into the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), directing the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to unravel what the Presidency described as a far-reaching fraud involving forged documents, impersonation and possible institutional lapses.

The directive, announced by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, followed mounting public outrage over the existence and operations of the PFIPC, which the Federal Government insists is fictitious and has no legal backing.

In a statement titled “President Tinubu orders ICPC to investigate Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council,” Onanuga said the President had mandated the anti-corruption agency to conduct a comprehensive probe into all aspects of the scandal and submit its findings within 30 days.

According to the statement, the investigation was prompted by the “discovery of the fictitious council,” which the Presidency said “was never established by the Federal Government and has no basis in law, presidential instrument, executive approval or any lawful act of government.”

The President specifically directed the ICPC to investigate the activities of one Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew, who allegedly paraded himself as Director-General of the council and claimed to be a presidential appointee using forged documents.

Tinubu ordered that the probe should cover the issuance and use of fake appointment letters and other official government documents allegedly deployed by Adeyemi to gain legitimacy.

The investigation will also examine how he reportedly used the false claim to seek diplomatic support, including visa facilitation, and open multiple bank accounts under the guise of government agencies.

“The investigation is 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; and the source and movement of any funds involved,” the statement said.

The President further directed the ICPC to determine whether any public officials, private individuals, financial institutions or intermediaries played roles in facilitating or enabling the alleged scheme.

In addition to identifying culpable actors, Tinubu tasked the commission with uncovering systemic weaknesses within government processes that may have allowed the fraudulent entity to appear legitimate.

“He also directed the ICPC to recommend immediate corrective measures to prevent a recurrence,” Onanuga stated.

All Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government have been instructed to cooperate fully with the ICPC by providing all necessary documents, records and assistance required to expedite the investigation.

Emphasising the gravity of the issue, the President said the integrity of the Presidency and public institutions must be safeguarded against fraud and impersonation.

“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. All persons found culpable are to be treated strictly in accordance with applicable law,” the statement added.

The probe order comes after weeks of intense scrutiny from civil society organisations, opposition figures and legal practitioners, who have questioned how the PFIPC allegedly operated from the Federal Secretariat Complex, maintained accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria, and even secured a N1.3bn allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Act despite lacking legal status.

The controversy deepened following revelations that the council had engaged with diplomatic missions and presented itself as an official government body.

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, who represents Adeyemi, had earlier called for a broader investigation into the matter. He questioned how the agency found its way into the national budget if, as claimed, its establishment documents were forged.

Falana also urged authorities to probe the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, over alleged links to the appointment letter, although the Presidency has firmly denied any connection.

In response, Onanuga disclosed that the police had already conducted forensic analysis on the signature attributed to Gbajabiamila in the disputed documents and found it to be fake.

“The police have investigated this man. They have done forensic analysis of the Chief of Staff’s signature. The case has been filed at the Federal Court already. Before filing the case, they had confirmed that the signature was forged and that all documents he presented were fake,” Onanuga said.

Meanwhile, the National Assembly has distanced itself from the controversy, with the Senate stating that it cannot intervene in the matter.

Speaking with journalists after plenary, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Yemi Adaramodu, said the upper chamber had not received any formal petition regarding the PFIPC and therefore had no basis to launch an investigation.

Adaramodu acknowledged that the controversial agency appeared in the 2026 Appropriation Act with a N1.3bn allocation but insisted that the inclusion was not the responsibility of lawmakers.

“The allegations and counter-allegations over a fake agency and its director-general are all within the executive, which should resolve the matter internally,” he said.

He added that the issue had become sub judice, noting that it was already before the court and therefore inappropriate for legislative intervention at this stage.

“The budget line being referred to was not created or inserted by the National Assembly. It is not the duty of the Senate or the House of Representatives to carry out security checks on individuals appointed to head MDAs,” Adaramodu explained.

He, however, left the door open for possible legislative action if a formal complaint is submitted.

“If a petition is sent to the Senate by any concerned Nigerian or party on the existence or non-existence of the agency, it will be looked into legislatively,” he said.

The unfolding scandal has raised serious concerns about accountability and due process within Nigeria’s public administration, particularly in relation to budget preparation, institutional verification and oversight mechanisms.

Analysts say the case highlights potential loopholes that could be exploited by fraudsters to impersonate government entities, access public funds and gain credibility both locally and internationally.

With the ICPC now mandated to deliver its findings within a month, attention will be focused on whether the investigation will not only uncover the full extent of the alleged fraud but also lead to meaningful reforms in government procedures.