President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the activities of a so-called Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), which the government says was never established. The directive was confirmed in a statement issued on Tuesday night by Tinubu's Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. The President has given the ICPC 30 days to conclude its investigation and submit a comprehensive report.
The probe will focus on the actions of one Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who allegedly presented himself as Director-General of the PFIPC and claimed to be a presidential appointee. The council, according to the Presidency, has no legal basis and was not created by any executive approval, law or official act. The ICPC is to investigate forged appointment letters and other government documents, the use of false claims to obtain diplomatic support including visa facilitation, and the opening of bank accounts in the names of non-existent government agencies.
The investigation will also examine how the alleged scheme gained apparent legitimacy, including the role of public officers, financial institutions or intermediaries who may have enabled or participated in the activities. This includes tracing the source and movement of any funds involved. While Gbajabiamila has denied any connection to the PFIPC, the Presidency maintains that no court has found him liable for wrongdoing. Criminal proceedings are currently ongoing against Adeyemi and two others over forgery, impersonation and obtaining by false pretence.
Gbajabiamila's public disavowal of the PFIPC and the Presidency's swift referral to ICPC appear to position him as cooperating with due process, even as allegations swirl. Yet the fact that a fictitious council linked to a presidential appointment claim could gain enough traction to prompt a 30-day presidential directive suggests gaps in verification protocols. The investigation's findings, especially on how forged documents were used to open bank accounts and seek diplomatic benefits, will directly affect public trust in official appointments. If the ICPC report reveals complicity beyond Adeyemi, it could reshape perceptions of oversight within key government channels.
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