Evening recap: ICPC uncovers more fake agencies in PFIPC probe, Tinubu orders EFCC to vacate Osun freeze, other top stories

Nigeria's Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has uncovered two more fake government agencies connected to Adeniyi Matthew Adeyemi, who claims to be the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC). This development intensifies the ongoing investigation into a significant fraud scheme.

ICPC Chairman Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu briefed State House correspondents, revealing that Adeyemi was never appointed by the Federal Government. The PFIPC lacks legal backing, not having been established by an Act of the National Assembly or an executive order. Investigators found Adeyemi's appointment letter to be forged, and the fake PFIPC had unlawfully occupied offices and used instruments previously belonging to the defunct Presidential Economic Advisory Council.

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The appointment letter Adeyemi used was forged and that the fake PFIPC had unlawfully taken over the offices and official instruments previously used by the now-defunct Presidential Economic Advisory Council.

In a separate matter, President Bola Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to seek the vacation of a court order freezing the accounts of the Osun State Government. The President expressed concern that the timing of the freeze, just days before the state's governorship election, could undermine public confidence in the democratic process. While not opposing the EFCC's statutory powers, Tinubu emphasized the need for careful consideration of such actions' timing.

Other notable news includes the death of Anthony Adeniyi Adeosun, husband of former Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun, at the age of 62 in Lagos. Additionally, football star Vinicius Junior has reportedly agreed to a new six-year contract with Real Madrid, dashing Arsenal's hopes of signing him.

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The directive was necessary to protect public confidence in the democratic process, given that the state is only days away from its governorship election.