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…Why We’re Staying Out Of PFIPC Controversy, By Senate
ABUJA – Apparently irked by criticism regarding the existence of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), President Bola Tinubu has issued a 30-day deadline to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to probe the agency.
According to a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, on Tuesday, it noted that Tinubu directed that the investigation be concluded and a comprehensive report be submitted to him within 30 days.
He said 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.
Recall that 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 president also asked the ICPC to probe 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.
He directed the ICPC to investigate not only the conduct of the principal individual and other collaborators involved but also the wider circumstances that may have enabled a fictitious body and a false claim of presidential appointment to acquire an appearance of official legitimacy.
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 president further directed the commission to identify any weaknesses in government and institutional procedures that may have been exploited and to recommend immediate measures to prevent the recurrence of similar abuses.
All ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government have been directed to provide the ICPC, upon lawful request, with all relevant information, records and assistance required for the expeditious completion of the investigation.
According to the president, 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.
He directed that all persons found culpable be treated strictly in accordance with applicable law.
A fortnight ago, the presidency had unearthed how one Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew had been allegedly parading himself as Director General of the fictitious Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council cum Presidential Economic Advisory Council.
Bayo Onanuga, who signed a statement to that effect, said the office of the Chief of Staff to the President first blew the whistle on the existence of the illegal agency, following complaints from officials of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council that another government agency appeared to be functioning at cross-purposes with it.
The Chief of Staff, on October 17, 2025, in a letter, had asked the DSS and the police to probe the activities of ‘fraudsters and imposters’ forging appointment letters purportedly from his office.
The presidency noted, “The attention of this office has been drawn to the activities of certain individuals and groups engaged in the forgery of official appointment letters purportedly issued from my office. The fake documents, bearing falsified signatures, reference/folio numbers, and seals, have been used to claim leadership appointments to non-existent entities, with particular reference to the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.
“The aforementioned entity under the leadership of one Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew as Director-General is said to have an office at the Federal Secretariat Complex Phase 111, 2nd Floor. Also, they have been parading themselves as a legitimate government agency, hosting meetings with both foreigners and Nigerian citizens, and even requesting a note verbale from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the United States of America to facilitate visas for some of their staff.
“The above development not only constitutes a serious criminal act but also undermines the integrity of the presidency and the credibility of official government communication.
“I, therefore, urge you to initiate a thorough investigation to identify and apprehend those involved and also to uncover the network facilitating the forgery,” the Chief of Staff wrote in his petition to the security agencies.
The letter to the security agencies was accompanied by a copy of the forged appointment letter, a copy of the request for a note verbale to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and pictures of engagements obtained from the illegal agency’s website.
Why We’re Staying Out Of PFIPC Controversy, By Senate
Meanwhile, the Senate on Tuesday said it has no petition before it regarding the controversy surrounding the alleged existence of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) and its purported Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, stressing that it has no basis to intervene in the matter.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu (Ekiti South), stated this while responding to questions from journalists after plenary at the National Assembly.
According to him, the dispute remains an executive matter, and the Senate cannot wade into it unless a formal petition is submitted by any of the parties involved or any concerned Nigerian.
His comments followed weeks of public exchanges between the alleged Director-General of the PFIPC and Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, over the status of the agency.
While the Chief of Staff reportedly disowned both the agency and its purported Director-General, Matthew insisted that the PFIPC is known to the presidency.
He further alleged that Gbajabiamila collected N400 million from him in connection with the appointment and demanded 48 percent of the N1.3 billion appropriated for the agency in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
Responding to the controversy, Adaramodu said the Senate had taken note of media reports indicating that the agency has a budget line in the 2026 Appropriation Act but maintained that the matter originated from the executive arm of government and should be resolved there.
He also noted that the dispute is already before the court, making it inappropriate for the Senate to comment or intervene in line with parliamentary rules on matters under judicial consideration.
“The allegations and counter-allegations over the alleged fake agency and fake Director-General are issues within the executive arm of government and should be resolved there, particularly between the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President and the alleged Director-General,” he said.
Adaramodu explained that the National Assembly neither created nor inserted the agency into the budget and is not responsible for conducting security or background checks on individuals appointed to head ministries, departments and agencies.
“The budget line being referred to was not created or inserted by the National Assembly. It is also not the responsibility of the Senate or the House of Representatives to carry out security checks on those appointed to head various MDAs,” he said.
He added that the situation would have been different if the individual involved had been one of the presidential nominees requiring Senate screening and confirmation.
“If the alleged Director-General had been a presidential appointee screened and confirmed by the Senate, the controversy might have had some connection with us,” he stated.
The Senate spokesperson, however, said the upper chamber would not hesitate to examine the matter if a formal petition is submitted.
“Should any of the parties involved, or indeed any concerned Nigerian, submit a petition to the Senate on the existence or otherwise of the agency or its leadership, the matter will be considered through the appropriate legislative process,” Adaramodu said.
