LASTEST: ICPC Exonerates Presidency Over Fake PFIPC Appointment Letter, Recommends Prosecution of Alleged Fake DG

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja after submitting the commission's interim report to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, said the findings followed a 30-day investigation ordered by the President to unravel the circumstances surrounding the controversial organisation and its operations.

According to the commission, investigators confirmed that Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew was never appointed by the Federal Government and that the PFIPC has no legal existence under Nigerian law. The ICPC explained that the organisation was neither established through legislation nor created by any Executive Order or other lawful government instrument.

The commission further disclosed that the appointment letter and several supporting documents presented by the alleged fake Director-General were forged and allegedly used to create the impression that the organisation had official government backing.

Dr. Aliyu said investigators also discovered that the fake organisation allegedly appropriated the identity, offices and operational framework of the former Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC), enabling it to project an image of legitimacy while carrying out its activities.

The ICPC stressed that although the investigation revealed lapses in verification procedures and weaknesses in coordination among some government institutions, there was no evidence that the Presidency or the Central Bank of Nigeria was involved in the alleged scheme. The commission specifically stated that the forged appointment letter did not originate from the Presidency and that existing systems within the State House and the CBN remained intact.

The anti-graft agency also revealed that investigators uncovered two additional fictitious agencies allegedly established by Adeyemi, identified as the FCT Investment Promotion Agency (FIFA) and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency and Public Private Partnership (FIFA-PPP). According to the commission, forged documents purporting to be Acts of the National Assembly were allegedly used to support the opening and operation of bank accounts linked to the organisations.

Furthermore, the commission disclosed that no Federal Government funds were approved, released or paid into the accounts of the alleged fake PFIPC, dismissing speculation that public funds had been officially allocated to the organisation.

As part of its recommendations, the ICPC called for the prosecution of Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew over the alleged offences uncovered during the investigation. It also recommended disciplinary measures against public officials whose negligence may have enabled the operation of the fake organisation, while proposing reforms to strengthen institutional verification systems and prevent similar incidents in the future.

The commission confirmed that investigations are continuing into the financial activities, bank accounts and suspected collaborators connected with the alleged fake agencies, assuring Nigerians that all persons found culpable will face the full weight of the law.

The ICPC reiterated its commitment to transparency, accountability and the protection of public institutions, stating that additional findings will be made public as the investigation progresses.