President Bola Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the activities of the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) and every issue connected to it.
The President instructed the anti-corruption agency to conclude its investigation and submit a detailed report within 30 days.
The directive was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to Onanuga, the decision followed the discovery of the “fictitious” PFIPC, which, according to the Presidency, was never established by the Federal Government and has no legal backing through any law, presidential directive, executive approval or official government instrument.
“One Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew presented himself as the Director-General of the so-called PFIPC and falsely claimed to be a presidential appointee.
“Among the issues to be investigated by the ICPC are the forged appointment letters and other official government documents; the use of a false claim of presidential appointment to seek or obtain official recognition and diplomatic support, including visa facilitation; and the opening of multiple bank accounts in the names of purported government agencies using allegedly forged documents,” the statement said.
The Presidency further stated that the President directed the ICPC to investigate not only the alleged activities of the principal suspect and any collaborators but also the circumstances that may have enabled a non-existent organisation and an alleged false presidential appointment to gain the appearance of official legitimacy.
According to Onanuga, investigators are expected to examine the origin and use of the alleged forged government documents, determine how official recognition or diplomatic support may have been sought or obtained, scrutinise the opening and operation of related bank accounts, trace the source and movement of funds, and identify any public officials, private individuals, financial institutions or intermediaries that may have facilitated or participated in the alleged scheme.
President Tinubu also instructed the commission to identify weaknesses within government systems that may have been exploited and recommend immediate measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
All federal ministries, departments and agencies have been directed to cooperate fully with the ICPC by providing all relevant records, information and assistance required for the investigation.
The President, according to the statement, stressed that the integrity of the Presidency and federal institutions must be protected against impersonation, forgery, abuse of official identity and exploitation of weaknesses within the public service.
He also directed that anyone found culpable should face the full weight of the law.
Controversy Surrounding Adeyemi
The controversy centres on Adeniyi Adeyemi, who insists he was legally appointed as Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), despite the Presidency maintaining that no such agency exists.
Adeyemi had accused the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, of receiving ₦400 million through a proxy and later demanding an additional ₦200 million to facilitate his appointment. He also disputed the Presidency’s denial of the PFIPC’s existence, arguing that the council was referenced in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
The embattled claimant has called on President Tinubu to establish an independent investigative panel, insisting he is prepared to defend his allegations in court.
However, the Presidency, through Onanuga, dismissed Adeyemi’s claims and described him as an impostor.
According to the Presidency, Adeyemi allegedly forged appointment documents, impersonated a government official, fraudulently opened an account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and operated under the name of a non-existent government agency.
The Presidency added that police investigations resulted in an eight-count criminal charge being filed against Adeyemi and two other defendants, with the matter scheduled for hearing on July 27.
Gbajabiamila Threatens ₦10bn Defamation Suit
Meanwhile, Gbajabiamila has threatened a ₦10 billion defamation lawsuit against Adeyemi over allegations of murder and bribery.
In a letter signed by his lawyer, Kemi Pinheiro, the Chief of Staff gave Adeyemi 72 hours to remove all videos and comments containing allegations against him.
The legal team also demanded that Adeyemi publish an apology and full retraction in at least five national newspapers and across his social media platforms, where his June 26 press conference was circulated.
Pinheiro described the allegations as “malicious, reckless and entirely without factual foundation,” arguing that they were intended to portray Gbajabiamila as “corrupt, morally bankrupt, and a murderer.”
The letter further directed Adeyemi to “cease and desist from making, repeating, publishing or causing to be published any further defamatory statements concerning our client” and to “provide our law firm with a written undertaking that you shall refrain from making any further defamatory statements concerning our client.”
The lawyer warned that “unless the foregoing demands are fully complied with within 72 hours of your receipt of this letter, our Client shall, without further reference to you, commence appropriate legal proceedings against you”, including filing a criminal defamation complaint under the applicable laws of the Federal Capital Territory.
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