‘Fake agency’: ICPC names 13 officials in interim report

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has named 13 public officials in its interim investigation into the activities of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), an organisation the commission said had no legal basis to operate within the Federal Government.

The interim report, submitted to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on August 6, followed the President’s directive for an investigation into the purported agency and how it gained access to government offices and processes despite not being established by any known law, Executive Order or other valid government instrument. Blueprint reports

Among the officials named is Joshua Kadiri Luka, Director of the Consolidated Accounts Department (CAD) in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF).

Others listed in the report are Mimi Abu of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation; Rosemary Achem, Special Adviser in the Budget Office; Patricia Akhigbe of the Ministry of Budget and National Planning; and Sanni Olubunmi, Muazu Balami, Omameh Florence, Akinlose Moses, Ogaba Harry, Esther Orji Okoli and Bello Abdullahi of the OAGF.

Also named are Aminu Abdullahi of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Ogunbade Habeebat Ajibola of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

The ICPC recommended administrative action against the 13 officials over what it described as acts of commission, omission or negligence that may have facilitated the activities of the purported agency within government.

The recommendation for administrative action is separate from the commission’s recommendation for the prosecution of Adeniyi Adeyemi, whom it identified as the promoter of the purported PFIPC.

ICPC recommends prosecution

According to the commission, Adeyemi is facing allegations bordering on forgery, impersonation, making false statements to public officers and criminal misrepresentation.

The ICPC also stated that Adeyemi was never appointed by the Federal Government as Director-General of the purported agency.

The investigation focused, among other issues, on how the organisation secured recognition in parts of the government bureaucracy and gained access to official processes and financial systems despite lacking a legal foundation.

The commission said its findings revealed that documents associated with the organisation had been forged, while weaknesses in existing verification procedures contributed to its ability to operate within parts of the government system.

It, however, stated that no Federal Government funds were approved or disbursed to the purported agency.

Luka explains role

Luka, who has previously explained his involvement in the matter, said he signed a letter dated November 2, 2024, addressed to the Permanent Secretary, State House, and not to the purported PFIPC.

According to him, correspondence emanating from his office was routed through the appropriate government channel to the State House rather than being sent directly to the purported agency.

He further explained that an advance copy of the letter was delivered to the Budget Office of the Federation for information only and was not intended to be acted upon until requested by the addressee, which he said was consistent with established civil service procedures.

Luka argued that the letter could have helped expose the purported agency earlier had it reached the intended recipient.

He alleged that the letter was diverted and never got to the State House, adding that the responsibility for delivering official correspondence did not rest with a director.

He also said he travelled shortly after signing the letter and was subsequently posted from the Consolidated Accounts Department to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Luka maintained that following his posting, he was no longer Director of CAD and therefore had no further opportunity to deal with the correspondence.

He also disputed some responsibilities attributed to his office in reports concerning the PFIPC, saying certain functions were handled by other departments involved in the government’s financial processes.

Investigation continues

The ICPC said its investigation was still ongoing and called for further inquiries into the roles played by government institutions and individuals connected to the purported agency.

The commission is also examining how the organisation was able to penetrate government structures, secure recognition in some official quarters and gain access to processes and financial systems without a valid legal basis.

While the interim report recommended administrative action against the 13 officials, such a recommendation does not in itself constitute a criminal charge or establish criminal liability against them.

The commission’s investigation remains ongoing, and any administrative measures against the affected officials will be subject to the outcome of the relevant processes.