By Olusegun Samuel Precious
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has uncovered two additional fake agencies linked to the ongoing investigation into the fraudulent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
The development follows a direct mandate from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who ordered a full-scale probe into the “fictitious” council after it was discovered the entity was never legally established by the Federal Government.
Massive Budgetary and Diplomatic Fraud
Investigations revealed that the fraudulent organization operated directly from the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja. Despite having no legal backing, the PFIPC successfully opened multiple bank accounts, engaged foreign diplomatic missions, and secured a ₦1.3 billion allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
The prime suspect, Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, allegedly paraded himself as the Director-General of the council, falsely claiming to be a presidential appointee. Law enforcement agencies have since clarified that the PFIPC is an entirely unrecognized entity operating completely outside the law.
Scope of the ICPC Probe
President Tinubu has given the anti-graft agency 30 days to conclude its investigation and submit a comprehensive report. The ICPC probe is specifically targeting:
- Forgery: Fabrication of official appointment letters and state government documents.
- Diplomatic Deception: Use of fake presidential claims to secure diplomatic support and visa facilitations.
- Financial Anomalies: Opening of multiple bank accounts under the guise of statutory federal agencies.
- Collusion: The operational environment that allowed the syndicate to infiltrate the 2026 national budget.
High-Profile Testimony and Frozen Accounts
The investigation has already reached the highest levels of government. The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, appeared before the ICPC panel on July 20, 2026, to provide official testimony.
A corresponding police report has recommended the immediate freezing of 34 bank accounts linked to Matthew. Out of these, nine accounts were opened using the names of fictitious government bodies. Security agencies are also tracking two other suspected accomplices, identified simply as “Femi” and “Anu,” who remain at large.
Suspect Fights Back
In his reaction, the prime suspect, Matthew, rejected the Presidency’s disclaimer and demanded the setup of an independent judicial panel. He pointed to deep contradictions regarding the status of the PFIPC and the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC), questioning how both entities were officially captured and allocated funds in the 2026 budget if they were non-existent.
ICPC spokesperson John Odey confirmed that the commission has fully taken over the case and will ensure all individuals involved in the syndicate are brought to justice.
