PFIPC scandal deepens as ICPC exposes fresh fake agencies, names collaborators.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has uncovered two additional fictitious government agencies in the course of its investigation into the alleged fraudulent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).

ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja after presenting an interim report of the investigation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa. He said investigations confirmed that Adeniyi Matthew Adeyemi, who presented himself as the Director-General of PFIPC, was never appointed by the Federal Government. The commission also established that PFIPC had no legal backing, as it was neither created by an Act of the National Assembly nor by an executive order.
According to Aliyu, the appointment letter allegedly used by Adeyemi was forged, while the group unlawfully occupied office space and made use of official materials belonging to the defunct Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC). He said the fake agencies were created using forged legislative instruments and were used to open bank accounts for illegal activities. The ICPC Chairman added that the syndicate operated from the former PEAC office, exploiting gaps in government verification systems to impersonate federal officials and carry out unlawful activities.
The commission also uncovered two more fake bodies during the investigation—the FCT Investment Promotion Agency and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency. Aliyu revealed that Adeyemi later changed the name of his organisation from “Foreign Investment Promotion Council” to “Foreign Intervention Promotion Council” in an attempt to broaden its activities to revenue generation.
On the financial aspect of the investigation, Aliyu said no funds were approved or disbursed for the fake PFIPC/PEAC and that there were no weaknesses in the State House or Central Bank of Nigeria systems. However, the interim report identified officials from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Budget Office of the Federation and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) as individuals who allegedly collaborated with the fake organisation.
The ICPC has recommended the prosecution of Adeyemi, while the implicated public officials are to face disciplinary action. Aliyu stressed that the report remains interim, noting that investigations are continuing to uncover additional evidence for criminal charges against Adeyemi and his collaborators.
President Tinubu, who received the report, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transparency, accountability and zero tolerance for impersonation and fraud in government. The ICPC said it would submit its final report and recommendations for prosecution after concluding its investigations.