ICPC: Fake Appointment Letter Did Not Originate from the Presidency, Recommends Prosecution of Suspect
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has disclosed that the appointment letter presented by Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew, who falsely claimed to be the Director-General of the fictitious Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), did not originate from the Presidency.
ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, made the disclosure during a press briefing in Abuja after submitting the Commission’s interim investigation report to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, exactly 30 days after the President directed the agency to investigate the matter.
Dr. Aliyu said the President’s directive reflected his administration’s commitment to transparency, accountability and the rule of law, adding that the findings had been communicated to the President before being presented to the public.
According to the ICPC Chairman, investigations established that Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew was never appointed by the Federal Government or any authorised government institution.
He further revealed that the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) was never created by any law, executive order or any valid instrument of government.
The Commission also confirmed that the appointment letter and other official documents used by the suspect to operate the fake agency were forged.
Dr. Aliyu disclosed that the suspect illegally appropriated the identity and operational structures of the former Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC), using false representations, impersonation and forged government documents to carry out unlawful activities.
The investigation further found that weaknesses in verification processes, inter-agency coordination and administrative oversight were exploited by the suspect, with indications of negligence and possible connivance by some public officials.
However, the ICPC clarified that no Federal Government funds were approved or disbursed to the fake PFIPC, while investigations also established that the operational systems of the State House and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) remained intact and were not compromised.
According to the Commission, further investigations uncovered that the suspect also created two additional fictitious government agencies—the FCT Investment Promotion Agency (FIFA) and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency and Public Private Partnership (FIFA-PPP).
Dr. Aliyu explained that the suspect allegedly forged legislative instruments presented as enabling Acts to facilitate the registration of the fake agencies and the opening of bank accounts.
The ICPC announced that it has recommended the full prosecution of Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew, administrative sanctions against public officers whose negligence enabled the illegal operations, as well as institutional reforms to strengthen verification and oversight mechanisms across government institutions.
The Commission added that investigations into the activities, financial transactions, bank accounts and collaborators linked to the fake PFIPC and the suspect are ongoing as efforts continue to ensure everyone involved is brought to justice.
ICPC: Fake Appointment Letter Did Not Originate from the Presidency, Recommends Prosecution of Suspect