The president directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged creation of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), describing the matter as a serious breach of public trust and government procedures.
The scandal emerged after authorities disclosed that the council, which the presidency says was never legally created or approved by the federal government, had reportedly been functioning as though it were an official government institution.
According to investigators, the alleged agency operated from office space at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, maintained multiple bank accounts and was listed to receive about 1.3 billion naira (approximately $950,000) in the 2026 national budget. The revelations have prompted widespread questions over how such an organisation could have passed through several layers of government administration without being detected.
Tinubu has instructed investigators to determine who authorised the establishment of the body, whether public officials were involved in facilitating its operations and how official government systems were allegedly manipulated to give the agency an appearance of legitimacy.
The president also ordered a broader review of administrative procedures within government institutions to identify weaknesses that may have enabled the alleged fraud. Officials said the review would seek to strengthen oversight mechanisms, tighten internal controls and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
Police investigations have centred on Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who allegedly presented himself as the director-general of the council. He faces accusations including forgery, impersonation and the use of forged government documents to create and operate the agency.
Investigators say forensic examinations concluded that the signature of Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, on documents purportedly authorising the council was forged. Authorities also allege that official-looking appointment letters, identification documents and other government paperwork were fabricated to support the operation.
Adeyemi has denied the allegations, insisting that the council was lawfully established and that its activities were legitimate. He has also alleged that some senior government officials demanded bribes during the process of formalising the agency before later attempting to take control of its finances. Those allegations have been rejected by the presidency, which maintains that the council has never had any legal status.
The case has sparked widespread public debate in Nigeria, with opposition politicians, legal experts and anti-corruption campaigners questioning how an organisation allegedly lacking any legal foundation was able to secure office accommodation, operate bank accounts and appear in the federal budget.
Analysts say the affair has exposed potential weaknesses in Nigeria’s public administration and budget oversight systems, raising concerns about accountability within the country’s institutions. Some have called for a comprehensive audit of government agencies and budget allocations to ensure that only duly authorised institutions receive public funding.
The investigation also comes as Tinubu’s administration seeks to reinforce its anti-corruption credentials and improve confidence in public institutions. Since taking office, the president has repeatedly pledged to strengthen governance, improve transparency and eliminate waste and fraud within the public sector.
The outcome of the ICPC investigation is expected to determine whether additional criminal charges will be brought against those involved and whether public officials could face disciplinary or legal action if they are found to have facilitated or ignored the alleged operation of the fictitious agency.
The scandal is widely regarded as one of the most unusual governance controversies to confront the Tinubu administration, highlighting the challenges of enforcing accountability within Nigeria’s vast federal bureaucracy while renewing calls for stronger safeguards against fraud in government institutions.
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