The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has uncovered two additional fake government agencies allegedly operated by the self-styled Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Matthew Adeyemi.
ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, disclosed this on Thursday while briefing State House correspondents after presenting the commission’s interim investigative report on the existence and operations of the fake agency to President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
According to Dr. Aliyu, investigations established that Adeyemi was never appointed by the Federal Government and that the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, later renamed the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, was never created by any law or executive order.
He revealed that the appointment letter presented by Adeyemi was forged and that the fake agency illegally took over offices and official instruments belonging to the defunct Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC).
The ICPC Chairman said the agency used the former PEAC office to carry out false representation, widespread impersonation and other unlawful activities, exploiting gaps in verification processes and inter-agency oversight.
Dr. Aliyu further disclosed that investigators uncovered two additional fake agencies—the FCT Investment Promotion Agency (PIFA) and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (PIPA).
“These agencies were created using forged legislative instruments and were used to open bank accounts for illegal activities,” he said.
He added that Adeyemi changed the name of the fake agency from the Foreign Investment Promotion Council to the Foreign Intervention Promotion Council and attempted to broaden its mandate to include revenue generation.
The ICPC boss emphasized that no government funds were approved or disbursed to the fake PFIPC or PEAC, stressing that investigations found no weaknesses in the systems of the State House or the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Among the recommendations contained in the committee’s interim report are the prosecution of Adeyemi, administrative sanctions against public officers who allegedly facilitated the illegal operations, and reforms to strengthen internal controls across government institutions.
The report identified alleged collaborators from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Budget Office of the Federation and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
Dr. Aliyu said the report remains interim, noting that investigations are ongoing to uncover additional evidence and collaborators before criminal charges are filed.
He also disclosed that President Bola Tinubu has acknowledged the findings and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transparency, accountability and ensuring those responsible are brought to justice.
