The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Commission (ICPC) has uncovered a fraudulent government agency operating from within the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) premises in Abuja, raising fresh concerns about security and infiltration of federal buildings.
The commission identified the illegal entity as the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office, describing it as an unlawful body with no legal basis to exist or function as a government agency. According to Channels TV, the ICPC confirmed that the fake agency had secured physical office space inside the OSGF compound, one of the most sensitive arms of Nigeria's federal bureaucracy.
How the Fake Agency Operated
The ICPC, led by Musa Adamu Aliyu, stated that the fraudulent organisation had gone beyond merely projecting a false identity. It had managed to allocate office space for itself within the OSGF premises, an act the commission described as illegal. This suggests the outfit had positioned itself to appear credible by operating from within an official government compound.
Per Vanguard, the commission did not specify how long the fake agency had been active within the OSGF premises or how it gained access to the facility. However, the discovery has heightened concerns about the ease with which fraudulent organisations can infiltrate government buildings.
House of Representatives Investigates PFIPC Scandal
This latest discovery comes amid an ongoing investigation into the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), a purported government body accused of being fictitious. The House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the PFIPC and its N1.3 billion budgetary allocation recently disclosed that Adeniyi Matthew Adeyemi, who described himself as the director-general (DG) of the purported PFIPC, will be interrogated privately rather than at a public hearing.
The committee had asked Tunji Disu, the inspector-general of police (IGP), to produce Adeyemi for questioning. Adeyemi is accused by the ICPC of creating and operating a fictitious government agency, the PFIPC. However, Disu declined the committee's request, stating that Adeyemi is being held in custody on a court order.
The IGP said the force would not produce Adeyemi unless a warrant is obtained from a court of competent jurisdiction, ordering the police to comply with the request. Adeyemi is currently in the custody of Nigerian authorities following his arrest in Osun state by police operatives.
Committee Plans Private Interrogation
Speaking at a public hearing in early August, Yusuf Gagdi, the chairman of the committee, said the panel was constrained by the court order. Gagdi said the committee would instead interrogate Adeyemi at a time and place that would not be disclosed to the media to avoid undermining ongoing investigations by anti-graft agencies.
This decision aims to protect the integrity of the investigation while ensuring that Adeyemi's rights are respected. The private interrogation is expected to provide the committee with crucial information about the alleged fake PFIPC and its operations.
Atiku Rejects ICPC Interim Report
Meanwhile, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has rejected the interim report by the ICPC on the alleged fake PFIPC, saying it does not amount to a clean bill of health for the Presidency. The opposition leader's senior special assistant on public communication, Phrank Shaibu, issued the statement on Atiku's behalf.
Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections, argued that the report itself recorded evidence of negligence and connivance within government circles. He said this made it impossible to conclude that only one person was responsible for the alleged operation. The former vice president's rejection highlights the broader concerns about accountability and transparency within Nigeria's federal institutions.
The ICPC's latest discovery of the fake agency within the OSGF premises, coupled with the ongoing PFIPC investigation, underscores the persistent challenge of fraudulent entities exploiting government infrastructure. The commission's actions signal a continued effort to root out such illegal operations, though questions remain about how these entities gain access to sensitive federal facilities.
