­By Rukevwe Odeh

President Bola Tinubu’s response to the controversy surrounding the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) has continued to attract public attention, with many Nigerians calling for greater transparency over how the controversial body gained apparent official recognition.

The administration recently directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the activities of the PFIPC after authorities declared that the organisation was never legally created by the Federal Government. The commission has been instructed to submit its findings within 30 days.

The investigation is expected to examine allegations that forged government documents, fake appointment letters and fraudulent claims of presidential endorsement were used to secure official recognition, facilitate diplomatic engagements and open multiple bank accounts.

Central to the controversy is Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who allegedly presented himself as the Director-General of the non-existent council and claimed to have received presidential appointment. Authorities are also investigating individuals and institutions that may have assisted the scheme or failed to detect it.

The scandal intensified after Adeyemi reportedly alleged that money was paid through intermediaries to the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila. Gbajabiamila has strongly denied the accusation, insisting he has no connection with the suspect. Reports indicate he had earlier petitioned security agencies over the alleged forgery of his signature and official documents before the controversy became public.

Political reactions have remained divided. While some government supporters argue the allegations are part of efforts to tarnish the image of the Tinubu administration ahead of the 2027 elections, critics insist the ease with which the PFIPC reportedly obtained office space and appeared to function within government circles raises serious questions about weaknesses in public institutions.

Legal practitioners and civil society groups have also weighed in. Some, including senior lawyer Femi Falana, have advocated an independent investigation, arguing that officials mentioned in the allegations should step aside temporarily to ensure a transparent inquiry. Others maintain that all accused persons deserve the presumption of innocence until investigations are completed.

Despite the controversy, President Tinubu has retained confidence in his Chief of Staff, recently assigning him additional responsibilities, a move interpreted by supporters as a sign that the Presidency is awaiting the outcome of the ICPC probe before taking further action.

The Presidency has maintained that the investigation will identify those responsible, expose any loopholes that enabled the alleged fraud and recommend reforms to prevent similar incidents. Meanwhile, criminal proceedings against Adeyemi are expected to continue in court as authorities seek to unravel the full extent of the alleged scheme.