Weak systems helped Adeyemi set up ‘fake agency,’ says ICPC

The Chairman of Nigeria's anti-corruption commission, Musa Aliyu, has revealed that the fake Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) was effectively set up due to inadequate institutional controls. Speaking in Abuja, Aliyu highlighted how these deficiencies allowed the individual behind the agency, Adeniyi Adeyemi, to manipulate government processes.

He emphasized the necessity of reinforcing these controls to thwart corruption and ensure officials scrutinize official-looking documents thoroughly. Aliyu cautioned that certain documents may seem suspicious at first glance and merit additional checks before any action is taken. He warned that exploiting these weaknesses could jeopardize Nigeria's efforts to attract foreign direct investment.

The controversy surrounding the PFIPC, which the federal government has disowned, was the impetus for President Bola Tinubu to task the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) with a thorough investigation. The probe, ordered on July 7, looked into the alleged use of forged documents and official government papers by Adeyemi, who claimed to be the Director-General of the nonexistent council while falsely stating that he was a presidential appointee.

Tinubu's Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced the investigation, which concluded on August 6. The ICPC cleared the Presidency of any wrongdoing but recommended the prosecution of the fake council's promoter, Adeniyi Adeyemi.