The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says it has uncovered two additional fake government agencies allegedly operated by Adeniyi Matthew Adeyemi, the self-acclaimed Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
ICPC Chairman Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN) disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents after submitting the commission’s interim report on the alleged fake agency at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
According to the ICPC, investigations showed that Adeyemi was never appointed by the Federal Government and that the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council was never created by any law or executive order.
The commission said the appointment letter presented by Adeyemi was forged and that the PFIPC unlawfully took over offices and official instruments previously used by the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC).
Dr. Aliyu explained that the fake agency operated from the former PEAC office and engaged in impersonation, false representation and other illegal activities, taking advantage of gaps in verification and coordination among government institutions.
The investigation also identified two other alleged fake agencies — the FCT Investment Promotion Agency (PIFA) and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (PIPA). The ICPC said these entities were created with forged legislative documents and were used to open bank accounts for unlawful transactions.
The anti-corruption agency further stated that Adeyemi later changed the name of the organisation from Foreign Investment Promotion Council to Foreign Intervention Promotion Council and attempted to broaden its activities to include revenue generation.
Dr. Aliyu said the investigation found that no government funds were approved or released to the fake PFIPC/PEAC and added that the State House and Central Bank of Nigeria systems were not compromised.
Among the committee’s recommendations are the prosecution of Adeyemi, disciplinary action against public officials who allegedly assisted the operation, and reforms to strengthen internal controls across government agencies.
The officials said to have collaborated in the operation are 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 Accountant-General’s Office, the Budget Office, and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
The ICPC chairman noted that the report is only interim and that investigations are continuing to gather more evidence for possible criminal charges against Adeyemi and any alleged collaborators.
He added that President Bola Tinubu has been informed of the findings and has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability in dealing with the matter.
