…Recommends Prosecution Of PFIPC DG
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has uncovered two additional fictitious government agencies allegedly created by Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew, the self-acclaimed Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
The anti-graft agency also recommended Adeyemi’s prosecution after concluding that he forged government documents, falsely presented himself as a presidential appointee and operated the fake agency through impersonation and other illegal activities.
ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), disclosed the findings on Thursday in Abuja while briefing journalists on the outcome of the 30-day investigation ordered by President Bola Tinubu.
Tinubu had, on July 7, directed the commission to investigate the activities of the PFIPC following reports that the agency was operating without legal backing.
Aliyu said the commission had submitted its interim report to the president before addressing the media.
According to presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, the investigations established that Adeyemi “was never appointed by the Federal Government or any authority of the government.”
He said the commission also found that the PFIPC “was never established by any law or executive order or other valid instrument of government.”
“The appointment letter presented by Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew was completely forged alongside similar documents used to perpetuate the illegal activities of the fake agency,” he said.
The ICPC chairman said the fake agency illegally appropriated the identity and operational instruments of the defunct Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC).
He added that the investigation uncovered “false projection, false representation, widespread impersonation and a wide range of illegal activities” allegedly carried out by Adeyemi.
Aliyu said the probe further revealed that lapses in verification procedures, inter-agency oversight and government processes were exploited by the suspect, with “some level of negligence and connivance.”
He, however, said the investigation found no evidence that Federal Government funds were approved or released to the fake agency.
According to him, the commission also found no weaknesses in the operational systems of the State House and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
“The fake appointment letter of Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew did not originate from the Presidency,” Aliyu said.
The ICPC chairman further disclosed that Adeyemi created two other fictitious agencies, namely the FCT Investment Promotion Agency (FIFA) and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency and Public Private Partnership (FIFA-PPP).
He said the suspect forged documents presented as enabling Acts to facilitate the creation of the agencies and used them to open bank accounts.
As part of its recommendations, the commission called for Adeyemi’s prosecution and administrative sanctions against public officers whose negligence allegedly enabled the operations of the fake agency.
Aliyu also said the ICPC had recommended institutional reforms to strengthen government verification processes and prevent similar incidents.
He added that investigations were continuing into the activities and bank accounts linked to the PFIPC, Adeyemi and his alleged collaborators.
The development comes after Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, issued a bench warrant for Adeyemi’s arrest after he failed to appear for his arraignment on an eight-count charge filed by the police.
The charges include forgery, impersonation and other offences linked to the operation of the fictitious agency.
(The Whistler)
