The Federal Government says it has uncovered plans by some unscrupulous elements to discredit the Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption (PACAC) and the government’s anti-corruption efforts, using fraudsters and their ilk.

According to a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, the committee’s letter head, stamp and the signature of Itse Sagay, its Chairman, are being forged and used to con people within and outside the country.

It cited a letter purportedly signed by Sagay, entitled ‘Presidential Investigation on Outstanding Federal Government External Contract Debts’, and a form to be filled for that purpose, which are being sent to unsuspecting persons to extort money from them and to portray the country’s highest advisory committee against corruption in bad light.

Mohammed clarified that President Muhammadu Buhari has not mandated PACAC to investigate and recommend for payment some outstanding contract debts, as contained in the letter in question, adding that, neither has the Federal Government approved the disbursement of $850 million 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.

He said Sagay and all the members of his committee are men and women of proven integrity who will never allow the committee to be used for any activity that is not within its mandate or that is capable of weakening the anti-corruption fight of the present Administration.