“30 days to expose the fraud”: Tinubu orders ICPC probe into fake Presidential Council scamming people with his name

Presidency: “PFIPC does not exist. No approval. No backing. It’s a scam”

The name of the President was allegedly being used to open doors, bank accounts, and even get visas.

Now, President Bola Tinubu has drawn a line.

On Tuesday, the President ordered the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, to launch a full investigation into the so-called “Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council” — PFIPC — a body the Presidency says never existed.

And he wants answers in 30 days.

—“A Fictitious Council”—-

According to a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the PFIPC has “no legal backing, no presidential approval, no executive instrument”.

In short: it is fake.

Yet, the group was allegedly operating with boldness.

The Presidency named one Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who it said falsely presented himself as the Director-General of PFIPC and claimed he was appointed by President Tinubu himself.

—The Allegations: Forgery, Impersonation, and Stolen Credibility—

Tinubu has directed ICPC to dig into:
– Forgery of appointment letters and other government documents
– Use of a fake presidential appointment to obtain diplomatic support and visa facilitation
– Opening bank accounts in the names of government agencies using forged documents
– Who aided them — public officials, private individuals, banks, or anyone who helped move money

The ICPC has also been told to trace the funds, find the loopholes that were exploited, and recommend how to shut them permanently.

—“Cooperate Fully”—

The President has ordered all MDAs to cooperate fully with ICPC and release any documents needed.

In his words, the integrity of the Presidency and government institutions “must be protected from impersonation, forgery and abuse of official authority.”

Anyone found culpable, he warned, would be prosecuted.

For 30 days, ICPC will chase the ghost of PFIPC.

For Nigerians, it’s another reminder: in the name of government, fraudsters are getting creative.

And this time, the President says enough.