The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Musa Aliyu, has said that weak institutional controls allowed Adeniyi Adeyemi to set up the disowned Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) and manipulate government processes.

Speaking in Abuja at the fourth Economic Confidential Lecture and National Spokesperson Award, Aliyu explained that the case highlighted how loopholes in Nigeria’s public sector could be exploited by individuals to perpetrate fraud and gain access to official channels.

He stressed the need for stronger institutional safeguards and greater diligence by government officials when handling documents that appear official.

“Recently, we have seen what happened on the issue of the vacancy. The system is very, very big. That was why an individual, allegedly, was able to build the system and to get documents to pass through various agencies, and for the agencies to act without due diligence,” Aliyu said.

The ICPC chairman warned that such exploitation of weak systems poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s efforts to attract foreign investment. 

He urged reforms to prevent manipulation of public processes and diversion of resources.

The comments come amid the controversy surrounding Adeyemi, who allegedly posed as Director-General of the non-existent PFIPC, using forged appointment letters and government documents to seek recognition, diplomatic support, and even open multiple bank accounts in the names of fake agencies.

President Bola Tinubu had earlier ordered the ICPC to investigate the matter. Submitting its report on August 6, the commission cleared the Presidency of wrongdoing and recommended Adeyemi’s prosecution.

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