The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has uncovered two additional alleged fictitious government agencies in its ongoing investigation into the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).

The development was disclosed on Thursday after the ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, presented an interim investigation report to President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to the commission, the two additional bodies identified during the investigation were the FCT Investment Promotion Agency and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency/Public-Private Partnership.

The ICPC said the agencies were allegedly linked to Adeniyi Matthew Adeyemi, who had been associated with the PFIPC controversy.

Investigators reportedly found that Adeyemi was never formally appointed by the Federal Government to head the PFIPC and that the council itself was not legally established through an Act of the National Assembly, executive order or any recognised government instrument.

The commission also alleged that documents presented as evidence of Adeyemi’s appointment and the legal establishment of the agencies were forged.

According to the interim report, some of the documents were allegedly used in attempts to give the organisations an appearance of legitimacy, including dealings with financial institutions and public offices.

The ICPC further stated that the PFIPC allegedly occupied office facilities and used materials previously connected with the defunct Presidential Economic Advisory Council.

As part of the investigation, officials from several government institutions, including the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Budget Office, were reportedly questioned.

The anti-graft agency said its investigation had so far found no evidence that the Presidency officially issued the purported appointment letter to Adeyemi.

It also said there was no established evidence at this stage that Federal Government funds were formally released to the alleged agencies.

However, the commission said investigations into other aspects of the case, including financial transactions and possible administrative failures by public officials, were continuing.

The ICPC recommended the prosecution of Adeyemi over allegations bordering on forgery, impersonation and the operation of fictitious government agencies.

It also recommended administrative sanctions against any public officers whose negligence or failure to conduct proper verification may have contributed to the alleged scheme.

The controversy has generated public concern over how an allegedly unauthorised organisation could operate with official-looking documents and interact with government institutions without being detected earlier.

The ICPC said further investigations were ongoing, while any criminal allegations arising from the probe would ultimately have to be proven before a competent court.