ICPC Uncovers Two More Fake Agencies in PFIPC Probe

The appointment letter presented by Adeyemi was forged, while the agency itself had no legal backing.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has uncovered two additional fake government agencies in its ongoing investigation into the activities of the 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 Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Aliyu said the investigation established that Adeyemi was never appointed by the Federal Government and that the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council was not created by any law or executive order.

According to him, the appointment letter presented by Adeyemi was forged, while the agency itself had no legal backing.

The ICPC chairman said investigators also discovered that the group had taken over offices and facilities formerly occupied by the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC), using them to carry out activities involving false representation and impersonation.

He further revealed that the probe uncovered two additional fictitious agencies — the FCT Investment Promotion Agency (PIFA) and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (PIPA).

According to Aliyu, both entities were established using forged legislative documents and were used to open bank accounts for unlawful operations.

He added that Adeyemi altered the name of the fake agency from the Foreign Investment Promotion Council to the Foreign Intervention Promotion Council and sought to expand its activities to include revenue generation.

Aliyu, however, said investigators found no evidence that government funds were approved or released to the fake agency. He also stated that the probe uncovered no security breaches within the State House or the Central Bank of Nigeria that facilitated its operations.

The investigation, he said, 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.

Aliyu said the commission had recommended the prosecution of Adeyemi, administrative sanctions against public officials who aided the operation, and reforms aimed at strengthening internal controls across government institutions.

He described the report submitted to the President as an interim one, noting that investigations are continuing to uncover additional evidence and prepare criminal charges against all those found to have participated in the scheme.

According to Aliyu, President Tinubu acknowledged the findings and reiterated his administration's commitment to transparency, accountability and the rule of law.