President Bola Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to investigate the activities of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, describing the body as fictitious and unknown to the Federal Government.
The President also ordered the anti-graft agency to conclude the investigation within 30 days and submit a comprehensive report.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the directive followed the discovery that the so-called council was never established by the Federal Government and had no legal backing through any law, presidential directive, executive approval or other lawful instrument.
The statement identified one Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew as the individual who allegedly presented himself as the Director-General of the council and falsely claimed to be a presidential appointee.
It said the ICPC had been mandated to investigate the alleged forgery of appointment letters and other official government documents, as well as claims that the suspect used the false presidential appointment to obtain official recognition and diplomatic support, including visa facilitation.
The commission will also probe the alleged opening of multiple bank accounts in the names of purported government agencies using forged documents.
President Tinubu further directed the ICPC to widen its investigation beyond the principal suspect to include other individuals or organisations that may have facilitated or participated in the alleged scheme.
According to the Presidency, investigators are expected to determine how the fictitious body acquired an appearance of legitimacy, examine the origin and use of the alleged forged documents, trace the source and movement of funds connected to the operation, and identify any public officials, financial institutions or intermediaries involved.
The President also instructed the commission to identify loopholes within government institutions that may have been exploited and recommend immediate measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
To facilitate the investigation, all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government have been directed to provide the ICPC with all relevant records, information and necessary assistance upon lawful request.
Tinubu stressed that the integrity of the Presidency and other government institutions must be protected against impersonation, forgery and abuse of official identity.
He also directed that anyone found culpable at the end of the investigation should be prosecuted in accordance with the law.