The Federal Government has raised the
alarm over an orchestrated plot to discredit
the Presidential Advisory Committee Against
Corruption, PACAC, and by extension the
government’s anti-corruption efforts, NAN
reports.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai
Mohammed, made this known in Abuja on
Tuesday in a statement signed by Segun
Adeyemi, his Special Adviser.
He said that the PACAC’s letterhead and
stamp as well as the signature of its
chairman were being forged and used to
contact people within and outside the
country.
The minister said that those behind the plot
were using ‘419ers’ and their ilk to portray
the country’s highest advisory committee
against corruption in bad light.
He said that in a particular instance, a letter
purportedly signed by the PACAC Chairman,
Itse SaGaey, was being sent to unsuspecting
persons to extort money from them.
Mr. Mohammed said that the letter entitled,
“Presidential Investigation on Outstanding
Federal Government External Contract
Debts”, and a form to be filled for that
purpose were being sent out by the
perpetrators to extort money.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the president
has not mandated PACAC to investigate and
recommend for payment some outstanding
contract debts, as contained in the letter in
question.
“The Federal Government has also not
approved the disbursement of 850 million
dollars in the 2017 budget for payment of
the so-called external contract debt.
“We are therefore using this medium to
inform Nigerians and foreigners alike to
disregard such letters,” he said.
The minister said that “SaGaey and all the
members of his committee are men and
women of proven integrity.’’
He said they would never allow the
committee to be used for any activity that
was not within its mandate or that was
capable of weakening the anti-corruption
fight of the administration.
