ICPC Uncovers Two More Fake Agencies Allegedly Created by PFIPC’s Adeyemi
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has uncovered two additional fictitious government agencies allegedly created by Adeniyi Adeyemi, the Director General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council.
The anti corruption agency identified the purported agencies as the FCT Investment Promotion Agency and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency/Public Private Partnership.
ICPC Chairman, Musa Aliyu, disclosed this on Thursday while briefing State House correspondents after presenting an interim investigation report to President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The briefing followed a 30 day investigation ordered by President Tinubu on July 7 into allegations surrounding the activities and legitimacy of the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council.
Aliyu said the investigation established that Adeyemi was never appointed by the Federal Government and that the PFIPC 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,” the ICPC chairman said.
According to Aliyu, Adeyemi allegedly used fake legislative instruments presented as enabling Acts to facilitate the creation of the purported agencies.
He said the alleged fake legislative instruments were subsequently relied upon to open bank accounts for the organisations.
The ICPC chairman further disclosed that the suspect allegedly opened two commercial bank accounts to support the operations of the purported agencies.
Aliyu said the commission had recommended the prosecution of Adeyemi over the allegations uncovered during its investigation.
He also said the commission recommended disciplinary action against public officials whose negligence allegedly enabled the activities, as well as reforms to strengthen internal controls across ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government.
The ICPC chairman, however, said investigations were still ongoing, stressing that the commission was working to identify other individuals who may have collaborated with Adeyemi in the alleged scheme.
He added that the additional investigation was necessary to strengthen the criminal case before charges were filed in court.
The latest findings came after President Tinubu directed the ICPC to investigate allegations surrounding the purported PFIPC and its operations.
The commission’s findings have now raised further questions about the activities of the organisation and how individuals allegedly presented as government officials were able to operate purported agencies and establish bank accounts using what the anti graft agency described as fake legislative instruments.
The ICPC said it would continue its investigation and pursue appropriate action against individuals found to have participated in the alleged scheme, while also seeking measures to prevent similar occurrences within government institutions.
Source: The Cable