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

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) has named 13 public officials in its interim investigation into the activities of the alleged Presidential Council for the Promotion of Foreign Intervention (PFIPC), an organization 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 of an investigation into the alleged 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. Project reports

Among the officials appointed is Joshua Kadiri Luka, director of the Consolidated Accounts Department (CAD) at the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF).

Others listed in the report are Mimi Abu of the Office of the Chief of Civil Service of the Federation; Rosemary Achem, Special Counsel at the Office of the Budget; 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 OAGF.

Also nominated 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 for what it described as acts of commission, omission or negligence that may have facilitated the alleged agency’s activities within the government.

The recommendation for administrative action is separate from the commission’s recommendation for the prosecution of Adeniyi Adeyemi, identified as the initiator of the alleged PFIPC.

The ICPC recommends prosecution

According to the commission, Adeyemi faces charges bordering on forgery, impersonation, making false statements to public officials and criminal misrepresentation.

The ICPC further said that Adeyemi was never appointed by the federal government as director general of the alleged agency.

The investigation focused, among other things, on how the organization gained recognition from government bureaucracy and gained access to official processes and financial systems despite lacking a legal basis.

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

However, he said no federal government funds were approved or disbursed to the alleged agency.

Luka explains the role

Luka, who 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 alleged PFIPC.

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

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

Luka argued that the letter could have helped expose the alleged agency sooner if it had reached the intended recipient.

He said the letter was diverted and never reached State House, adding that the responsibility for delivering official correspondence did not rest with an editor.

He also said that he traveled shortly after signing the letter and was subsequently assigned by the Consolidated Budget Department to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Luka claimed that after his appointment he was no longer director of the CAD and therefore no longer had the possibility to deal with correspondence.

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

The investigations continue

The ICPC said its investigation was still ongoing and called for further investigation into the role played by government institutions and individuals linked to the alleged agency.

The commission is also examining how the organization managed to penetrate government structures, gain recognition in some official circles and gain access to financial processes and systems without a valid legal basis.

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

The commission’s investigation is still ongoing and any administrative measures against the officials concerned will be subject to the outcome of the relevant trials.