Senior civil servants linked to the alleged establishment of a non-existent federal government agency are facing intense scrutiny following the Presidency's directive for a full investigation into the matter.
Sources said several officials who handled files and approvals connected to the agency, allegedly masterminded by self-acclaimed Director-General Adeniyi Adeyemi, have been questioned over their roles in the controversy.
The officials are reportedly appealing for leniency, admitting they exercised poor judgment in processing documents that enabled the scheme to progress through the federal bureaucracy.
The scandal has drawn widespread attention after it emerged that the purported agency allegedly secured office space at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, was included in the 2026 federal budget, and reportedly attempted to open an account with the Central Bank of Nigeria.
In response, senior government officials held a high-level meeting earlier this week to establish how the agency gained official recognition and identify those responsible for processing its documents.
According to sources familiar with the meeting, officials who handled relevant files and memos were asked to explain the decisions they made and the procedures they followed. The meeting reportedly found that some officers acted without obtaining the necessary approvals from their superiors.
When asked to explain their actions, the affected officials reportedly cited poor judgment and indiscretion.
One senior official was said to have become emotional during the meeting while appealing to his superiors for mercy.
The meeting followed the Presidency's position that any public officials who facilitated the alleged scheme should be identified and held accountable.
Hours after the meeting, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the matter, a move expected to widen the probe into the alleged irregularities.
Those present at the meeting reportedly included the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Accountant-General of the Federation and senior officials from the Presidency. The Chief of Staff to the President was not in attendance.
Following a briefing on the outcome of the meeting, the President approved the directive for an ICPC investigation, which was subsequently announced by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
