President Bola Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the activities of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), describing it as a fictitious organisation with no legal backing.
The directive, announced by the Presidency on Tuesday, marks the first official intervention by the President since the controversy surrounding the alleged agency emerged.
According to a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the PFIPC was never established by the Federal Government and has no legal foundation through any law, executive approval, presidential directive or government instrument.
President Tinubu ordered the ICPC to conclude its investigation within 30 days and submit a comprehensive report.
The anti-corruption agency has been tasked with investigating allegations of forged appointment letters, fake government documents, the use of purported presidential appointments to obtain official recognition and diplomatic support, including visa facilitation, as well as the opening of bank accounts in the names of alleged government agencies using forged documents.
The commission is also expected to identify individuals or institutions that may have aided the alleged scheme, trace financial transactions connected to it, uncover weaknesses in government procedures that may have been exploited and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents.
The President directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to cooperate fully with the investigation, stressing that anyone found culpable should face the full weight of the law.
The Presidency identified Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew as the individual who allegedly presented himself as the Director-General of the PFIPC and falsely claimed to have been appointed by President Tinubu.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force has already filed criminal charges against Matthew before the Federal High Court in Abuja, accusing him of conspiracy, forgery, impersonation and other related offences.
Although his whereabouts remain unknown, Matthew recently stated during a television interview that he was receiving medical treatment at an undisclosed location and would present his evidence before the court.
In a related development, the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, has demanded N10 billion in damages from Matthew over alleged defamatory statements.
Through his solicitors, Pinheiro LP, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Kemi Pinheiro, Gbajabiamila issued a 72-hour cease-and-desist notice, demanding an immediate retraction and public apology over allegations made during a June 25 press conference and widely circulated across traditional and social media platforms.
The legal team described the allegations as false, malicious and defamatory, insisting that Gbajabiamila never met or communicated with Matthew.
The lawyers rejected claims that the Chief of Staff demanded a 48 per cent share of the purported agency’s take-off grant, received N400 million through proxies, manipulated budgetary allocations, abused his office or engaged in corrupt practices.
In addition to the N10 billion compensation, the legal notice demands the removal of all defamatory publications, a full apology published in at least five national newspapers and an undertaking that the allegations will not be repeated. Failure to comply within 72 hours, the lawyers warned, would result in both civil and criminal legal proceedings.
The Senate also distanced itself from the controversy, saying it had received no petition requiring legislative intervention.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu, said the matter falls within the executive arm of government and should be handled accordingly.
He explained that although reports suggested the purported agency appeared in the 2026 Appropriation Act, the National Assembly neither established the body nor conducts background checks on heads of government agencies beyond constitutional confirmation responsibilities.
Adaramodu added that since the matter is already before the court, the Senate would refrain from making further comments unless formally petitioned.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force has denied reports that Matthew’s father was arrested in connection with the case.
Force Public Relations Officer, Anietie Iniedu, said the suspect’s father was not in police custody, while a senior police officer dismissed allegations of arrest by proxy, maintaining that there was no justification for detaining him since the matter is already before the court.