By The Pivot Online News Desk
ABUJA – The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has uncovered two additional fictitious government agencies in the course of its investigation into the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), a development that has further exposed an elaborate network of fraud and document forgery.
The latest discovery emerged as the anti-graft agency submitted an interim report of its investigation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu following a directive to probe the activities of the purported council.
According to the ICPC, investigations established that the PFIPC was never legally established by the Federal Government and had no constitutional or statutory backing. The commission also found that the suspect behind the scheme allegedly forged official government documents, including appointment letters and gazettes, to create the false impression that the agency was legitimate.
In a further twist, investigators uncovered two more fake agencies allegedly floated by the same promoter, who reportedly used forged documents and fabricated government approvals to sustain the fraudulent operation.
The ICPC disclosed that the fictitious agencies were allegedly used to open bank accounts, present themselves as government institutions and carry out activities capable of misleading unsuspecting members of the public and investors.
The commission noted that its investigation also exposed weaknesses in administrative procedures across some Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), creating loopholes that were exploited by the perpetrators. It, however, stressed that the findings do not suggest that the affected government institutions were complicit in the fraud.
ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, said the commission has recommended the prosecution of the principal suspect and assured Nigerians that investigations are continuing to identify and bring to justice every individual connected with the criminal enterprise.
He reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to protecting the integrity of public institutions and preventing criminals from exploiting government processes through forgery and impersonation.
The PFIPC scandal has raised fresh concerns over the ease with which fake government institutions can operate and the urgent need for stronger verification mechanisms within the nation’s public service.
Political observers say the outcome of the investigation could trigger broader reforms aimed at strengthening transparency, improving inter-agency coordination and safeguarding Nigeria’s investment environment from fraudulent actors.
The ICPC has assured Nigerians that no stone will be left unturned as it intensifies efforts to dismantle the network behind the fake agencies and restore public confidence in government institutions.