President Bola Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to investigate the activities of a purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council. The directive was recently contained in a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to him, President Tinubu has ordered the anti-graft agency to conclude its investigation and submit a comprehensive report within 30 days.
He added that not only the activities of the principal suspect and his collaborators will be investigated, the broader circumstances that enabled the alleged scheme must be looked into as well.
His words, “The directive follows the discovery of the fictitious PFIPC, which was never established by the Federal Government of Nigeria and has no basis in any law, presidential instrument, executive approval, or other lawful act of Government.
Among the issues to be investigated 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 investigation is to examine the provenance and use of false official documents; the processes through which official recognition or diplomatic support may have been sought or obtained; the opening and operation of any related bank accounts; the source and movement of any funds involved; and the role of any public officer, private individual, financial institution, intermediary or other person or entity that may have facilitated, enabled or participated in the alleged scheme.
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 be treated strictly in accordance with applicable law.”
