President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practice and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to conduct a thorough investigation into the operations of a fictitious agency known as the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC). The president has given the anti-graft agency an ultimatum of 30 days to submit a comprehensive report.
The PFIPC, which claimed to operate under the president’s office, was never established by the Federal Government of Nigeria. It had no legal basis in any law, executive approval or other lawful act of government.
However, according to Sahara Reporters, the agency reportedly secured an office space in government buildings. It opened an account with the Central Bank of Nigeria, has a ‘.gov.ng’ domain, and even received a 1.3 billion naira allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
At the centre of this chaos is Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew, who presented himself as the director-general of the PFIPC and claimed to be a presidential appointee.
The police have launched a manhunt for him on suspicion of forgery, impersonation, and related offences. Before he went into hiding, Adeyemi maintained his innocence, claiming that the agency was lawfully established in 2024 to attract foreign investment. He also alleged that senior government officials demanded bribes from all of them, which the presidency has denied.
According to forensic analysis reports, documents like an alleged appointment letter bearing the signature of the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajambiamila, were forged.
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Details of the Presidential Directive
According to the statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the ICPC investigation will cover:
- The forged appointment letters and official government documents used by Adeyemi Mathew.
- How false claims of presidential appointment were used to seek official recognition, diplomatic support and to open multiple bank accounts.
- The source and movement of any funds involved, including the 1.3 billion naira budget allocation.
- The wider circumstances and institutional weaknesses that allowed the fictitious body to gain an appearance of legitimacy.
- The roles of any public officers, private individuals, financial institutions, or others who may have facilitated the scheme.
- The roles of any public officers, private individuals, financial institutions, or others who may have facilitated the scheme.
As the investigation begins, President Tinubu has also emphasised that all ministries, departments, and agencies fully cooperate with the ICPC. “All persons found culpable are to be treated strictly in accordance with applicable law,” the directive stated.
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