…recommends prosecution of Adeyemi, sanctions for complicit public officers
The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN has submitted an interim report to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the Commission’s investigation into the activities of the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).
Dr Aliyu disclosed this on Thursday after briefing the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, exactly 30 days after the President directed the Commission to investigate the alleged fictitious government agency.
The ICPC Boss said the Commission had, based on its preliminary findings, recommended the prosecution of Mr Adeniyi Adeyemi, who allegedly paraded himself as the Director-General of PFIPC, for offences including forgery, impersonation and other related offences.
According to the ICPC Chairman, the investigation established that Adeyemi was never appointed by the Federal Government or any government authority, while PFIPC itself was not created 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,” Dr Aliyu said.
He disclosed that the purported appointment letter, gazette and other official-looking documents presented to support the existence of PFIPC were forged.
“The appointment letter presented by Adeyemi was completely forged, alongside similar documents used to perpetuate the illegal activities of the fake agency,” he stated.
The ICPC Chairman further revealed that the investigation established that the purported agency unlawfully appropriated the identity and office facilities previously associated with the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC).
He explained that the suspect allegedly gained access to the premises after the locks to the facility were broken, following which the premises were used to conduct the activities of the purported agency.
Dr Aliyu said the investigation also uncovered evidence of widespread impersonation and false representation allegedly carried out in the name of PFIPC.
He disclosed that the Commission further uncovered two other purported fictitious agencies allegedly created by Adeyemi to facilitate and expand the activities of the scheme. These, he said, are the FCT Investment Promotion Agency and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency and Public Private Partnership.
According to him, forged legislative instruments were allegedly used to create the purported agencies and facilitate the opening and operation of bank accounts in their names.
The ICPC Chairman, however, clarified that the investigation found no evidence that Federal Government funds were approved or disbursed to PFIPC or its operators.
“Our investigation found that no funds of the Federal Government were approved or disbursed to the fake PFIPC/PEAC,” he said.
He also stated that the Commission found no evidence that the purported appointment letter originated from the Presidency.
Dr Aliyu noted that weaknesses in verification procedures and inter-agency oversight created opportunities which were allegedly exploited by the suspect and his collaborators to operate the fictitious organisation.
Consequently, the Chairman said the Commission has recommended administrative sanctions against public officers whose acts of commission, omission or negligence may have facilitated the operations of the purported agency.
He added that ICPC has also proposed institutional reforms aimed at strengthening verification mechanisms, internal controls and inter-agency oversight across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government.
“Adeniyi Adeyemi should be prosecuted, while administrative sanctions should be imposed on public officers whose acts of commission, omission and negligence facilitated the illegal operation of PFIPC/PEAC,” the Chairman stated.
Dr Aliyu stressed that the investigation was still ongoing, particularly to identify other persons who may have participated in or facilitated the alleged scheme and to obtain further evidence necessary to support any criminal prosecution.
“We have continued with the investigation of the activities of Mr Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew and his collaborators so that we can unravel more and file criminal charges that can stand the test of time,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Mr Sunday Dare, said the President would review the interim report and consult further with the Attorney-General of the Federation before taking appropriate action.
Dare added that relevant government institutions, including law enforcement agencies, would continue their investigations to ensure that the matter was comprehensively addressed.