As reported by Premium Times, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has uncovered the alleged roles of several civil servants in helping the disowned Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council secure government approvals and access official financial systems.
The findings are contained in the commission’s interim investigation report into the activities of the purported agency and its Director General, Adeniyi Adeyemi.
The investigation was ordered by President Bola Tinubu after the Presidency distanced itself from both the organisation and Adeyemi.
According to the report, the purported agency’s penetration of government structures was allegedly aided not only by questionable documents presented by Adeyemi but also by officials who processed its requests despite gaps in the required procedures.
The ICPC said Adeyemi began seeking formal recognition in November 2024 when he approached the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation for an administrative code, self accounting status and approval to open accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria.
He reportedly submitted documents including an appointment letter, an establishment instrument and a letter on State House letterhead allegedly signed by one Akanbi Adewale.
Investigators, however, reportedly established that no such person existed and that forensic examination showed the letter had actually been signed by Adeyemi.
Despite the discrepancies, the documents were allegedly used to process the applications.
The OAGF subsequently granted the purported agency self accounting status on May 27, 2025 and assigned it administrative code 0111062001, alongside establishment and recruitment waiver arrangements.
The approvals enabled the organisation to secure a place in the 2026 federal budget and gain access to government financial systems.
The OAGF also created a Government Integrated Financial Management Information System platform and a Sub Treasury Account for the purported agency.
It further directed the CBN to create two domiciliary accounts for the organisation following a request by the PFIPC.
The CBN later told the House of Representatives that the accounts were never activated because authorised signatories were not provided.
The ICPC also investigated the alleged roles of three civil servants in securing an authorised establishment and recruitment waiver for the organisation.
They were identified as Rose Achem, a senior administrative officer to the Director General of the Budget Office of the Federation; Patricia Akhigbe, an assistant director at the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning; and Mimi Abu, director of organisation design and development at the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
The commission alleged that Achem introduced Akhigbe to Abu as the head of human resources of the purported agency, despite Akhigbe being an assistant director in the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.
Investigators said the introduction was intended to facilitate the PFIPC’s application for establishment and recruitment waiver.
The three officials allegedly facilitated the approval process through the OHCSF, despite investigators finding no evidence that the purported agency had formally applied for the approvals as required.
The ICPC further alleged that Adeyemi paid Akhigbe N500,000 during Easter in 2025, with the payment reportedly described as a “thank you for your support.”
The commission said the authorised establishment was granted on the same day the three officials met.
Investigators also reportedly requested the relevant file from the OHCSF but were informed that it was missing.
The commission further examined Abu’s role because her department handles establishment matters, manpower requirements and recruitment waivers for federal government organisations.
According to the report, Achem and Akhigbe met Abu on behalf of the purported agency and presented documents which investigators later described as forged, including an establishment instrument and Adeyemi’s appointment letter.
Abu reportedly described the controversial appointment letter, purportedly issued by the Chief of Staff to the President, as an “aberration,” saying she could not recall another government organisation presenting such a document.
The ICPC also investigated how the purported agency secured office accommodation at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja.
An official of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Aminu Abdullahi, was identified as being involved in office allocation.
The commission said Abdullahi was introduced to Adeyemi in March 2025 by Ibrahim Abdulkadir, a deputy director in the General Services Department.
Investigators alleged that Abdullahi allocated offices previously occupied by former Chief Economic Adviser to the President, Doyin Salami, at the Federal Secretariat Phase III for the temporary use of the purported agency without obtaining written approval.
The report further alleged that only two keys were initially available and that Abdullahi broke the locks on other doors to enable Adeyemi to gain access to additional office spaces.
A review of Abdullahi’s bank statement allegedly showed that he received N3.25m from Adeyemi in three instalments between March and November 2025.
The ICPC investigation has also uncovered another suspected fake government entity, the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office, which allegedly operated within the OSGF.
The discovery prompted President Tinubu to order the suspension of three permanent secretaries and the arrest of the alleged promoter of the entity, George Buchi Nwabueze.
ICPC Chairman, Musa Aliyu, said investigators found that Nwabueze allegedly operated under different variations of his name and that suspected collaborators existed within the OSGF.
The commission said forged legislative instruments were allegedly used to create an appearance of legitimacy for the entities and facilitate the opening of bank accounts in their names.
The investigation identified weaknesses in the civil service verification system which allegedly enabled the purported agencies to obtain official recognition.
The ICPC said existing procedures did not sufficiently require newly established federal institutions to submit and authenticate relevant establishment documents, while mechanisms for verifying documents presented by such organisations were also inadequate.
The commission recommended administrative action against Abu, Achem, Akhigbe and Abdullahi.
Adeyemi has denied wrongdoing and maintained that his appointment was legitimate.
He is currently facing an eight count charge bordering on alleged forgery, impersonation and related offences.
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The Presidency, however, has maintained that neither the PFIPC nor Adeyemi received official recognition under the Tinubu administration.
Source: Premium Times
