President Bola Tinubu has ordered the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the activities of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), a body the Presidency says never existed, and submit its findings within 30 days.
The directive came on Tuesday as the controversy over the alleged fake government agency continued to generate public debate, with the Senate distancing itself from claims that lawmakers approved funding for the council without proper scrutiny.
The President’s directive was contained in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, titled “President Tinubu Orders ICPC to Investigate Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.”
According to the statement, the investigation follows the discovery that the PFIPC was a fictitious organisation that had no legal backing, presidential approval, executive order or any lawful basis for its existence.
The Presidency said the ICPC has been directed to carry out a comprehensive investigation into every aspect of the alleged scheme, including the activities of the man who presented himself as the Director-General of the council, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew.
According to the Presidency, investigators are expected to examine the alleged forged appointment letters and other government documents reportedly used by Adeyemi to claim he was appointed by President Tinubu.
The anti-corruption agency is also expected to investigate allegations that the suspect used the claimed presidential appointment to obtain official recognition, seek diplomatic support, facilitate visa applications and open several bank accounts in the names of purported government agencies using allegedly forged documents.
President Tinubu also directed the commission to determine how a body that was never officially created was able to gain what appeared to be government recognition.
According to the statement, the ICPC will investigate the origin and use of the alleged fake official documents, the process through which any official recognition or diplomatic support was sought or obtained, the operation of related bank accounts and the movement of funds connected to the alleged scheme.
The investigation will also identify any public officials, private individuals, financial institutions or intermediaries that may have assisted, enabled or participated in the activities under investigation.
The President further instructed the commission to identify weaknesses within government institutions that may have been exploited and recommend immediate reforms to prevent similar incidents in the future.
To ensure a speedy investigation, Tinubu directed all ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government to provide the ICPC with all relevant documents, records and assistance required to complete its assignment within the 30-day deadline.
“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 President stated.
The latest directive follows weeks of public concern over reports that the alleged council operated from the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, maintained accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria, communicated with government agencies and diplomatic missions, and even appeared in the 2026 Appropriation Act with an allocation of N1.3 billion.
These revelations prompted calls from civil society groups, opposition politicians and legal experts for an independent investigation into how the organisation allegedly operated without legal approval.
One of the strongest calls came from senior human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), who represents Adeyemi in the ongoing criminal case.
Falana questioned how the alleged agency found its way into the federal budget if, as the Presidency insists, it never existed.
He argued that the investigation should not focus only on Adeyemi but should also examine how the council allegedly secured official recognition and budgetary allocation.
The Presidency, however, has repeatedly denied any connection between the alleged scheme and the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Government officials have maintained that forensic analysis carried out by the Nigeria Police Force confirmed that the signature on the appointment letter allegedly issued to Adeyemi was forged.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force has released Adeyemi’s father after questioning him over the whereabouts of his son.
The elderly man was reportedly arrested after police officers visited the family’s residence, a development that attracted criticism from Falana.
The senior lawyer described the arrest as unlawful, insisting that relatives of criminal suspects should not be subjected to harassment or intimidation during investigations.
Falana argued that his client had never attempted to evade justice, noting that Adeyemi had already appeared before the court on four previous occasions.
According to him, Adeyemi remains committed to defending himself before the court and will attend the next hearing scheduled for July 27.
He maintained that the matter should be resolved through the judicial process rather than through actions targeting members of the suspect’s family.
The controversy dates back to October 2025, when the Nigeria Police Force began investigating allegations of forgery, impersonation and the unlawful use of official government documents linked to the PFIPC.
During the investigation, witnesses reportedly told investigators that official letterheads bearing the council’s name and insignia were produced and used to communicate with government institutions.
There were also claims that invitations connected to the council were allegedly issued by the House of Representatives, adding another layer to the controversy.
The police subsequently charged Adeyemi before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
He is currently facing an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery and impersonation.
The Federal Government has listed Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila and 10 other witnesses expected to testify during the trial.
The Senate has also rejected suggestions that lawmakers knowingly approved funding for a non-existent agency, maintaining that the National Assembly should not be blamed for the controversy. Lawmakers have insisted that the appropriation process relies heavily on budget submissions and supporting documents received from relevant government institutions.
The outcome of the ICPC investigation is expected to determine how the alleged fake agency operated, whether there was official collaboration, how it found its way into the 2026 budget, and whether weaknesses in government processes were exploited.