The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has uncovered two additional fake government agencies while investigating the activities of self proclaimed Director General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, PFIPC, Adeniyi Matthew Adeyemi.
ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, disclosed this on Thursday after presenting the commission’s interim investigation report to President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
According to Aliyu, the investigation established that Adeyemi was never appointed by the Federal Government and that the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council was never created through 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.
Aliyu explained that the fake agency took over the offices and facilities previously occupied by the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, PEAC, and used them to carry out illegal activities, including false representation and impersonation.
He further disclosed that investigators uncovered two more fake agencies identified as the FCT Investment Promotion Agency, FIPA, and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency, FIPA.
According to him, the agencies were created using forged legislative documents and were allegedly used to open bank accounts for illegal activities.
“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,” Aliyu said.
The ICPC chairman stated that investigators found no evidence that government funds were approved or released to the fake agency.
He also said there was no indication of any security breach within the State House or the Central Bank of Nigeria that enabled the agency’s operations.
Aliyu disclosed that the investigation identified collaborators from 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.
He said the commission has recommended the prosecution of Adeyemi, administrative sanctions against public officials who aided the illegal operation, and institutional reforms to strengthen internal control mechanisms across government agencies.
Aliyu described the report submitted to President Tinubu as an interim report, noting that investigations are continuing to uncover additional details and prepare criminal charges against Adeyemi and any other individuals found to have participated in the scheme.
He added that President Tinubu had acknowledged the findings and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
