ICPC Investigation Unearths Two More Fake Agencies, Elaborate Forgery Ring in Federal Government

…Tinubu Receives Probe Report as Anti-Graft Agency Seeks Prosecution of “DG”, Sanctions for Others

By Franklin Adole
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has uncovered two more fictitious federal agencies and dismantled what it described as an elaborate forgery, impersonation, and fraud ring that exploited gaps in government verification processes to operate from the heart of the Federal Government using fake presidential appointments and forged legal instruments.

The startling findings emerged on Thursday as ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), presented an interim investigation report to President Bola Tinubu, exactly 30 days after the President directed the Commission to probe the activities of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).

Addressing journalists after briefing the President, Aliyu said the investigation had established beyond doubt that the self-acclaimed Director-General of the organisation, Adeniyi Matthew Adeyemi, was never appointed by the Federal Government and that the PFIPC itself had no legal existence.

“It has been established that Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew was never appointed by the Federal Government or any authority of government,” he said.

According to the ICPC boss, the agency was never established by an Act of the National Assembly, an Executive Order, or any other valid instrument of government.

He disclosed that the appointment letter, gazette, and other documents relied upon by Adeyemi to parade himself as a presidential appointee were all forged.

“The appointment letter presented by Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew was completely forged alongside similar documents used to perpetuate the illegal activities of the fake agency,” Aliyu stated.

In a significant development, the ICPC chairman also cleared the Presidency of any involvement in the forgery.

He said investigations established that the fake appointment letter did not originate from the Presidency, adding that the Commission found no weaknesses in the systems of either the State House or the Central Bank of Nigeria, which he described as “above board.”

The report, however, revealed that the syndicate exploited weaknesses in verification procedures, inter-agency oversight, and administrative processes, aided by what Aliyu described as “some level of negligence and connivance.”

Investigators also discovered that the fake organisation had unlawfully taken over the offices and operational materials of the defunct Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC), from where it allegedly engaged in widespread impersonation, false representation, and other illegal activities.

According to the ICPC, Adeyemi later expanded the alleged fraud by creating two additional fictitious government agencies—the FCT Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA) and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency and Public-Private Partnership (FIPA-PPP).

Aliyu said the suspect allegedly forged enabling legislation for both organisations and used the fake Acts to facilitate the opening of bank accounts and conduct other activities.

The Commission further disclosed that no Federal Government funds were approved or disbursed to the fake agency at any time.

“Our investigation found that no fund of the Federal Government was approved or disbursed to the fake PFIPC/PEAC,” Aliyu said.

Nevertheless, the interim report identified officials in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Budget Office of the Federation, and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) as among those whose acts of omission, negligence, or alleged collaboration enabled the operation of the fraudulent organisation.

Consequently, the ICPC recommended the immediate prosecution of Adeyemi for alleged forgery, impersonation, and related offences, while also calling for administrative sanctions against public officers found culpable.

The Commission further proposed institutional reforms aimed at strengthening verification procedures and tightening internal controls across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to prevent a recurrence.

Aliyu stressed that the report submitted to President Tinubu was only an interim report, adding that investigators were still tracing bank accounts linked to the fake agency, its principal suspect, and other collaborators.

“There is an ongoing investigation into all activities, bank accounts of PFIPC, Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, and his collaborators,” he said.

He added that President Tinubu’s decision to order the probe and direct that its findings be made public underscored the administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

Following the briefing, the Presidency said the President would study the report in consultation with the Attorney-General of the Federation before taking further action, while directing all relevant law enforcement agencies to continue investigations until everyone connected with the alleged fraud network is brought to justice.