The web of deceit surrounding the so-called Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) has grown even more tangled, as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has uncovered two additional ghost agencies linked to its self-styled Director-General, Adeniyi Matthew Adeyemi.
ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, revealed the startling new developments on Friday during a press briefing at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. His disclosure came immediately after submitting the commission’s interim report on the fraudulent agency to the presidency.
Dr. Aliyu laid bare the depths of the alleged conspiracy, stating unequivocally that Mr. Adeyemi was never a government appointee. Furthermore, he confirmed that the PFIPC itself is a complete fabrication, lacking any legal or executive basis for its existence.
The investigation has painted a picture of a sophisticated operation. According to the interim report, Mr. Adeyemi’s purported appointment letter is a forgery. The fake council then allegedly commandeered office space and assets that belonged to the now-defunct Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC).
“This individual, using the former PEAC offices as his base, engaged in widespread impersonation and false representation, exploiting gaps in oversight between various government agencies,” Dr. Aliyu stated.
However, the most concerning revelation is the existence of two more entirely fictitious bodies: the FCT Investment Promotion Agency (PIFA) and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (PIPA). The ICPC alleges that these agencies were created using counterfeit legislative instruments and, crucially, were used to open bank accounts to facilitate the group’s illicit activities. The investigation further notes that Mr. Adeyemi attempted to rebrand his primary fake entity from the “Foreign Investment Promotion Council” to the “Foreign Intervention Promotion Council” in an effort to broaden its scope and claim a mandate for revenue generation.
Despite the elaborate nature of the scheme, the ICPC Chief assured the public that no government funds were disbursed to the fake entities. He also clarified that the probe found no systemic weaknesses within the State House or the Central Bank of Nigeria’s financial systems.
The commission has put forward several key recommendations in its interim report. These include the immediate prosecution of Mr. Adeyemi, administrative sanctions for public officials who enabled his operations, and comprehensive reforms to tighten internal controls and verification processes.
The report implicated officials from a number of critical government bodies, including the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Head of the Civil Service, the Accountant-General’s Office, the Budget Office, and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
“This is an interim report,” Dr. Aliyu emphasized. “Our investigation is far from over. We will continue to pursue this matter to uncover all the details necessary to file criminal charges against Mr. Adeyemi and any collaborators who aided him.”
President Bola Tinubu has reportedly acknowledged the findings of the report and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability in dealing with the case.