The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has uncovered two additional fake government agencies while investigating Adeniyi Matthew Adeyemi, the self-acclaimed Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC). The disclosure came from ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, on Thursday after presenting the commission's interim investigation report to President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Investigation Confirms Forged Appointment and Illegal Establishment
Aliyu stated that the investigation established that Adeyemi was never appointed by the Federal Government, and the PFIPC was never created by any law or executive order. "Our investigation confirmed that the appointment letter presented by Adeyemi was forged, while the PFIPC was never legally established by the Federal Government," he said. The fake agency reportedly took over the offices and facilities of the former Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC) and used them for illegal activities, including false representation and impersonation.
Two Additional Fake Agencies Uncovered
The ICPC chairman revealed that the investigation uncovered two more fake agencies: the FCT Investment Promotion Agency (PIFA) and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (PIPA). These agencies were created using forged legislative documents and were used to open bank accounts for illegal activities. Aliyu explained, "Our investigation showed that Adeyemi changed the name of the fake agency from the Foreign Investment Promotion Council to the Foreign Intervention Promotion Council and also tried to expand its activities to include revenue generation."
No Government Funds or Security Lapses Found
The investigation found no evidence that government funds were approved or released to the fake agency. Aliyu also noted that there were no security lapses within the State House or the Central Bank of Nigeria that enabled its operations. This suggests that the illegal activities were carried out without direct financial support from the government, relying instead on forged documents and impersonation.
Collaborators Identified Across Government Offices
Aliyu disclosed that the investigation identified collaborators from several key government offices, including the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Office of the Accountant-General, the Budget Office, and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). These collaborators are suspected of assisting the illegal operation, and the ICPC is pursuing administrative sanctions against them.
Recommendations and Ongoing Investigations
The commission has recommended the prosecution of Adeyemi, administrative sanctions against public officers who assisted the illegal operation, and reforms to strengthen internal controls in government institutions. Aliyu emphasized that the report submitted to the President was interim, noting that investigations are still ongoing to uncover more details and prepare criminal charges against Adeyemi and any collaborators. The ICPC remains committed to rooting out corruption and ensuring that such fraudulent activities are brought to justice.
