The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has uncovered two additional fictitious government agencies allegedly created by Adeniyi Adeyemi, the Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).
The anti-corruption agency identified the entities as the FCT Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA) and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency/Public-Private Partnership (FIPA-PPP).
ICPC Chairman Musa Aliyu disclosed the findings on Thursday while briefing State House correspondents after presenting an interim investigation report to President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The investigation followed a 30-day directive issued by the President on July 7 to probe allegations surrounding the purported PFIPC.
Aliyu said the investigation established that Adeyemi had never been appointed by the Federal Government and that the PFIPC itself had no legal existence.
“The ICPC also discovered that Adeniyi Adeyemi created two additional fictitious government agencies apart from the one already known in the public domain,” he said.
According to the ICPC chairman, Adeyemi allegedly used fabricated legislative instruments presented as enabling Acts to give the purported agencies an appearance of legitimacy.
The documents were also allegedly used to facilitate the opening of bank accounts for the organisations.
Aliyu said Adeyemi allegedly opened two commercial bank accounts to support the operations of the fictitious agencies.
The ICPC chairman said the commission had recommended that Adeyemi be prosecuted over the alleged offences.
The commission also recommended disciplinary action against public officials whose alleged negligence or failure to carry out their responsibilities facilitated the activities.
Aliyu said the ICPC had further proposed reforms aimed at strengthening internal controls across ministries, departments and agencies of government to prevent similar incidents.
He, however, said the investigation was still ongoing, with the commission working to identify other individuals who may have been involved and gather additional evidence to strengthen the criminal case.
The ICPC said charges would be filed in court after the completion of the ongoing investigation and other necessary procedures.
Erizia Rubyjeana
