The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says it has uncovered two additional fake government agencies while investigating Adeniyi Matthew Adeyemi, who allegedly presented himself as the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, disclosed the findings on Thursday after presenting an interim investigation report to President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
According to Aliyu, investigators established that Adeyemi was never appointed by the Federal Government and that the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council had no legal basis, having been created neither by legislation nor by an executive order.
He said the appointment letter allegedly used by Adeyemi to claim the position was forged.
Aliyu further alleged that the fake organisation occupied offices and facilities previously used by the former Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC), from where it carried out activities involving false representation and impersonation.
The investigation also led to the discovery of two other fictitious agencies identified as the FCT Investment Promotion Agency (PIFA) and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (PIPA).
According to the ICPC chairman, the agencies were established using forged legislative documents and were subsequently used to open bank accounts for alleged unlawful activities.
He said investigators found that Adeyemi had changed the name of the organisation from the Foreign Investment Promotion Council to the Foreign Intervention Promotion Council and attempted to broaden its mandate to include revenue generation.
Aliyu, however, stated that the commission found no evidence that any government funds had been approved or released to the fake agency. He also said there was no indication of security breaches within either the State House or the Central Bank of Nigeria that facilitated its operations.
The ICPC chairman disclosed that the investigation identified individuals 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) as alleged collaborators.
He said the commission had recommended the prosecution of Adeyemi, disciplinary action against public officials found to have assisted the operation, and reforms to strengthen internal controls across government institutions.
Aliyu described the report submitted to President Tinubu as an interim one, noting that investigations are continuing to identify additional suspects and prepare criminal charges against anyone found to have been involved.
He added that the President acknowledged the commission’s findings and reiterated his administration’s commitment to transparency, accountability and the fight against corruption.
