ICPC recommends prosecution of fake PFIPC boss, uncovers wider fraud scheme. By Kemi Aina
ICPC recommends prosecution of fake PFIPC boss, uncovers wider fraud scheme.
By Kemi Aina
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says it has uncovered two additional fake government agencies while investigating the activities of the self-acclaimed Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Matthew Adeyemi.
ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), 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 never established by any law, executive order or other valid government instrument.
“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.
He added that the fake agency unlawfully occupied the offices and facilities of the defunct Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC), using them as its operational base to carry out illegal activities, including impersonation and false representation.
The ICPC chairman said the investigation also uncovered two additional fictitious agencies: the Foreign Capital and Wealth Investment Promotion Agency (FCWIPA) and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency/Public-Private Partnership (FIPA-PPP).
According to him, the two fake agencies were created using forged legislative instruments presented as enabling Acts and were used to open commercial bank accounts through which their illegal activities were carried out.
Aliyu said investigations further revealed that Adeyemi changed the name of the fake agency from the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council to the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council in an apparent attempt to expand its scope and encroach on the mandates of legitimate government revenue-generating agencies.
He said the commission found no evidence that Federal Government funds were approved or disbursed to the fake agency.
Aliyu also stated that the investigation uncovered no security lapses within the State House, adding that the forged appointment letter did not originate from the Presidency.
He disclosed that the probe identified institutional weaknesses and alleged collaborators within the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Budget Office and other relevant government agencies, which enabled the suspect’s activities.
According to him, the commission has recommended the prosecution of Adeyemi, administrative sanctions against public officers whose acts of omission or negligence facilitated the illegal operation, and comprehensive reforms to strengthen internal controls across government institutions.
Aliyu said the report submitted to President Tinubu was an interim one, noting that investigations were still ongoing to uncover additional evidence and prepare criminal charges against Adeyemi and any other persons found to have collaborated with him.
He added that President Tinubu had taken note of the findings, while the commission would continue its investigation to ensure that all those involved are brought to justice.
