President Bola Tinubu has called for a full inquiry into the alleged establishment of a fictitious government body within his own office.
The claim centers on the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), which reportedly received ₦1.3bn in public funds – the equivalent of $950,000 – and operated from office space in the Federal Secretariat.
Police are in pursuit of Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who has been accused of forging the chief of staff’s signature and presenting himself as the council’s director general. He told media that he was innocent but feared for his life and promised to appear in court. The president’s office has denied any involvement in the alleged forgery.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has been tasked with producing a comprehensive report within 30 days, examining forged documents, the opening of bank accounts and the involvement of public officials and private entities.
Civil society groups, opposition politicians and legal experts have demanded an independent investigation, citing the need to protect the integrity of federal institutions from forgery and impersonation.
Additional reporting by Adesola Abisoye in Lagos included.
