By Oscar Okhifo
President Bola Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), following allegations of forgery, impersonation and the use of fake presidential appointment documents.
The directive comes amid a growing controversy involving Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who has claimed to be the Director-General of the council and insisted he was duly appointed by the Federal Government—a claim the Presidency has repeatedly denied.
Announcing the President’s directive on Tuesday, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the ICPC had been given 30 days to conclude its investigation and submit a comprehensive report to the President.
According to Onanuga, preliminary findings by the Presidency established that the PFIPC was never created by the Federal Government and has no legal basis.
He said the purported council “has no foundation in any law, presidential instrument, executive approval or any other official act of the Government of the Federation.”
The Presidency alleged that Adeyemi falsely presented himself as a presidential appointee and operated under the identity of a government official despite the council’s non-existence.
According to the statement, the ICPC will investigate allegations bordering on forged appointment letters and other official documents, the use of a purported presidential appointment to obtain official recognition and diplomatic support, as well as the opening of bank accounts in the names of government agencies using allegedly forged documents.
“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 Presidency said the investigation would extend beyond Adeyemi and his alleged collaborators to determine how a non-existent government body allegedly gained an appearance of legitimacy.
According to the statement, investigators will examine the origin and use of the alleged forged documents, the circumstances under which official recognition or diplomatic support may have been secured, the operation of related bank accounts, the movement of funds, and the possible involvement of public officials, private individuals, financial institutions and intermediaries.
The commission has also been tasked with identifying weaknesses in government procedures that may have been exploited and recommending reforms to prevent a recurrence.
To facilitate the investigation, all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) have been directed to cooperate fully with the ICPC by providing all relevant records and information.
The Presidency said President Tinubu was determined to protect the integrity of the Presidency and public institutions from impersonation, forgery and abuse of official identity, adding that anyone found culpable would face the full weight of the law.
How the controversy began
The controversy erupted after Adeyemi insisted that he was the legally appointed Director-General of the PFIPC despite repeated denials by the Presidency that such a government agency exists.
He also accused the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, of receiving ₦400 million through a proxy and allegedly demanding an additional ₦200 million to facilitate his appointment.
Adeyemi further challenged the Presidency’s position by claiming the PFIPC was referenced in the 2026 Appropriation Act and has maintained that he is prepared to defend his claims in court. He has also called on President Tinubu to constitute an independent panel to investigate the matter.
The Presidency, however, dismissed the claims, describing Adeyemi as an impostor who allegedly forged appointment documents, impersonated a government official, fraudulently opened a Central Bank of Nigeria account and operated under a non-existent government agency.
It further disclosed that police investigations had resulted in an eight-count criminal charge being filed against Adeyemi and two others. The case is scheduled for hearing on July 27.
The controversy has also drawn in Gbajabiamila, who has threatened a ₦10 billion defamation suit against Adeyemi over the allegations.
In a letter signed by his counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), the Chief of Staff demanded the withdrawal of the allegations, the removal of related videos and social media posts, and the publication of an apology and retraction in five national newspapers and across social media platforms.
Pinheiro described the allegations as “malicious, reckless and entirely without factual foundation,” accusing Adeyemi of attempting to portray Gbajabiamila as “corrupt, morally bankrupt, and a murderer.”
The lawyer gave Adeyemi 72 hours to comply, warning that failure to do so would trigger both civil proceedings and a criminal complaint for defamation.
The unfolding controversy has generated widespread public interest, with some Nigerians dubbing it “Gbajagate” and calling for a transparent investigation into the competing claims.
Civil society organisations and other stakeholders have also called for an independent probe, arguing that the investigation must be thorough enough to determine the authenticity of the allegations and restore public confidence in government institutions.
With the ICPC now formally directed to investigate, attention is expected to shift to whether its findings will finally resolve the controversy surrounding the alleged council, the disputed appointments and the claims of forgery that have dominated public discourse in recent days.