The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has recommended administrative action against 13 public officials over their alleged roles in the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), an organisation it found was never legally established by the Federal Government.
The recommendation is contained in an interim investigation report submitted to President Bola Tinubu on 6 August. The probe was launched following the President’s directive to investigate how the purported agency gained access to government offices, financial systems and other official privileges despite having no valid legal backing.
The ICPC also recommended the prosecution of Adeniyi Adeyemi, who allegedly presented himself as the PFIPC Director-General, for offences including forgery, impersonation, making false statements to public officers and criminal misrepresentation.
Among the 13 officials recommended for administrative action are officers from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Budget Office, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the National Information Technology Development Agency.
The commission further called for investigations into the roles of officials in the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Finance, as well as individuals linked to purported fake ministries, forged laws and bank accounts allegedly connected to the organisation.
It also recommended a detailed review of bank accounts associated with Adeyemi and investigations into funds he reportedly claimed to have obtained as loans.
According to the investigation, the PFIPC was able to project itself as a legitimate government institution through official-looking documents and gaps in verification procedures. These lapses reportedly enabled it to secure office accommodation, pursue self-accounting status and obtain foreign-currency accounts through government processes.
The ICPC recommended reforms to strengthen the authentication of government documents and prevent unauthorised organisations from accessing public facilities, financial systems and other government privileges.
The Presidency has previously disowned both the PFIPC and Adeyemi’s purported appointment, maintaining that the organisation had no official status under the Tinubu administration. Adeyemi is already facing criminal proceedings alongside two others over allegations including conspiracy, forgery and impersonation.
