The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has uncovered two additional agencies allegedly linked to the activities of the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).
ICPC Chairman, Musa Aliyu, disclosed this on Thursday after submitting an interim report on the commission’s investigation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The agencies identified by the commission are the FCT Investment Promotion Agency and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency and Public Private Partnership.
According to Aliyu, the agencies were allegedly created by Adeniyi Adeyemi, who had presented himself as the Director-General of PFIPC.
He said Adeyemi allegedly relied on forged legislative instruments to give the agencies an appearance of legitimacy and used the documents to open bank accounts for their operations.
The ICPC chairman said the commission’s preliminary findings established that Adeyemi was never appointed by the Federal Government or any government authority.
He also said PFIPC was not established by any law, executive order or other valid government instrument.
“Following the interim report, it has been established that Adeniyi Adeyemi was never appointed by the Federal Government or any authority of government,” Aliyu said.
The commission further alleged that the appointment letter, gazette and other documents presented by Adeyemi to support the existence of PFIPC were forged.
According to the ICPC, the purported agency also allegedly appropriated the identity and office facilities of the former Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC).
Aliyu said the premises were allegedly accessed after locks were broken, allowing the operators of PFIPC to use the facility.
The investigation also examined allegations of impersonation and false representation by the purported agency.
However, the ICPC said it found no evidence that federal government funds were approved or released to PFIPC or its operators.
“Our investigation found that no funds of the federal government were approved or disbursed to the fake PFIPC/PEAC,” Aliyu said.
The commission also said there was no evidence that the purported appointment letter used by Adeyemi originated from the Presidency.
Following its findings, the ICPC recommended the prosecution of Adeyemi for alleged forgery, impersonation and related offences.
It also recommended administrative sanctions against public officials whose actions, omissions or negligence may have facilitated the alleged activities.
The commission further called for institutional reforms to strengthen internal controls across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and prevent similar incidents.
Aliyu said the investigation remains ongoing, noting that investigators are working to identify other individuals who may have been involved and gather sufficient evidence before filing criminal charges.
The report was submitted 30 days after President Tinubu directed the ICPC to investigate the PFIPC controversy.
Speaking after the briefing, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, said Tinubu would study the interim report and consult with the Attorney-General of the Federation before determining the next steps.
Dare added that relevant government agencies would continue their investigations until the matter is fully resolved.
