The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has identified four government officials allegedly linked to the process through which the now-disowned Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) obtained official approvals and gained access to government facilities and systems.

The officials named in the commission’s interim investigation are Rose Achem, Patricia Akhigbe, Mimi Abu and Aminu Abdullahi.

The ICPC findings are contained in its investigation into the activities of Adeniyi Adeyemi, who presented himself as the Director-General of the PFIPC despite the Federal Government’s position that the agency was never legally established.

According to the investigation, Adeyemi was able to move the purported agency through several government processes with the assistance of officials in different institutions.

The commission found that documents used by Adeyemi to support the existence of the PFIPC were forged.

Despite this, some of the documents were processed by government officials and used to secure administrative recognition, financial access and office accommodation.

Adeyemi first began seeking formal recognition for the organisation in November 2024.

He approached the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), seeking an administrative code, self-accounting status and approval to open accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

He submitted documents which included an alleged appointment letter, an establishment instrument and a letter on State House letterhead.

The letter was purportedly signed by one Akanbi Adewale.

However, investigators found that no such official existed.

A forensic examination also showed that the letter attributed to Adewale had actually been signed by Adeyemi.

Despite the irregularities, the documents were used in subsequent administrative processes involving the purported agency.

Who are the Government Officials Linked to Recruitment Approval?

The ICPC specifically examined the roles of three civil servants in securing an authorised establishment and recruitment waiver for the PFIPC.

They are Achem, a senior administrative officer to the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation; Akhigbe, an assistant director in the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning; and Abu, director of organisation design and development at the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF).

Investigators found that Achem introduced Akhigbe to Abu as the head of human resources of the PFIPC.

This was despite Akhigbe being an assistant director in the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.

The three officials subsequently became involved in efforts to facilitate the purported council’s application for authorised establishment and recruitment waiver through the OHCSF.

The ICPC said the process did not follow the normal procedure.

Investigators found no evidence that the PFIPC had formally submitted an application for an authorised establishment and recruitment waiver.

Despite this, the approval was reportedly granted on the same day Achem, Akhigbe and Abu met.

The commission also found that Adeyemi paid Akhigbe N500,000 during Easter in 2025.

The payment was described as a “thank you for your support.”

Abu’s involvement attracted particular attention because her department handles authorised establishment, manpower requirements and recruitment waivers for federal government organisations.

The department also oversees units responsible for establishment and workforce planning, organisation design, job design and development, as well as rules and regulations.

The investigation found that Achem and Akhigbe met Abu on behalf of the PFIPC and presented documents that investigators later described as forged.

Among them was the controversial appointment letter allegedly issued by the Chief of Staff to the President.

Abu reportedly described the document as an “aberration”.

She also told investigators that she could not recall another government organisation presenting an appointment letter signed by the Chief of Staff.

The ICPC further found that the PFIPC experienced difficulties uploading the required documents through the OHCSF portal.

Physical copies were subsequently presented to officials.

Official Linked to Federal Secretariat Office

The investigation also identified Aminu Abdullahi, an official responsible for coordinating office allocation within the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).

Abdullahi became involved after Adeyemi sought office accommodation for the purported agency.

The investigation found that a deputy director in the General Services Department, Ibrahim Abdulkadir, introduced Abdullahi to Adeyemi in March 2025.

The purpose was to guide Adeyemi through the process of securing office accommodation at the Federal Secretariat.

This came after an earlier request made on behalf of the PFIPC to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reportedly failed to produce the desired result.

Investigators subsequently found that Abdullahi allocated offices previously occupied by former Chief Economic Adviser to the President, Doyin Salami, at the Federal Secretariat Phase III for temporary use by the PFIPC.

The allocation was allegedly made without written approval.

The ICPC also examined Abdullahi’s financial transactions.

According to the investigation, his bank statement showed that he received N3.25 million from Adeyemi in three separate payments between March and November 2025.

The Presidency has maintained that the organisation was not created by President Bola Tinubu’s administration and that Adeyemi was never appointed to head such an agency.

Adeyemi is facing an eight-count charge before the Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations bordering on forgery and impersonation.

He has denied the allegations and maintained that he will prove his innocence in court.