ICPC: Fake PFIPC Appointment Letter Not From Presidency

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has confirmed that the purported appointment letter presented by Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew as Director-General of the fictitious Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) did not originate from the Presidency.

Addressing journalists in Abuja on Thursday after submitting an interim report to President Bola Tinubu, ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, said investigations established that Adeyemi was never appointed by the Federal Government and that the PFIPC had no legal basis for its existence.

Aliyu said the President had, on July 7, 2026, given the commission 30 days to investigate the matter.

“Recall the President on 7th July, 2026 gave ICPC 30 days to investigate into the fake Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council and today is exactly 30 days. I have just submitted the interim report and briefed Mr. President accordingly.”

He added that President Tinubu directed him to brief Nigerians “in the spirit of transparency and accountability.”

According to the ICPC chairman, the investigation found that the PFIPC “was never established by any law, executive order or other valid instrument of government” and that the appointment letter and other official documents used by Adeyemi were forged.

“The fake appointment letter of Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew did not originate from the Presidency.”

The commission also found that the fake agency unlawfully took over the identity and operations of the former Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC), while Adeyemi allegedly engaged in widespread impersonation, false representation and other illegal activities.

Aliyu disclosed that investigators found no evidence that Federal Government funds were approved or disbursed to the fake agency, adding that no weaknesses were identified in the systems of either the State House or the Central Bank of Nigeria.

However, he said the suspect exploited gaps in verification, inter-agency oversight and government processes, aided by “some level of negligence and connivance.”

The ICPC further revealed that Adeyemi allegedly created two additional fictitious government agencies — the FCT Investment Promotion Agency (FIFA) and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency and Public Private Partnership (FIFA-PPP) — using forged enabling laws to facilitate the opening of bank accounts.

Aliyu said the commission has recommended Adeyemi’s prosecution, administrative sanctions against public officers whose negligence enabled the operation of the fake agencies, and institutional reforms to prevent similar incidents.

He added that investigations into the activities, bank accounts and collaborators of Adeyemi and the fake agencies are ongoing.