The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has declined to produce Adeniyi Adeyemi before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the alleged ₦1.3 billion budgetary allocation to the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), citing an existing court order.
The committee had, on Monday, directed the IGP to present Adeyemi for questioning over the activities of the PFIPC.
However, at the committee’s investigative hearing on Wednesday, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Olufemi Akinola, who represented the IGP, explained that Adeyemi remains in police custody based on a valid court order.
According to Akinola, the police cannot produce the suspect before the lawmakers unless a court of competent jurisdiction issues a warrant directing the force to do so.
Responding, the committee’s chairman, Yusuf Gagdi, said the lawmakers respected the judiciary and would not interfere with ongoing court proceedings.
“We are not commenting on the conspiracy and fraud charges already before the court because we respect the principle of separation of powers,” Gagdi said.
He clarified that the IGP had not refused the committee’s request but was simply complying with a court order.
“The IGP did not refuse to present the suspect. He only explained that a court order currently remands him (Adeyemi) in police custody, and until that order is vacated or a warrant is obtained, the police cannot release him to appear before the National Assembly,” he added.
Gagdi disclosed that the committee would continue engaging the police as it prepares its preliminary report, which is expected to be presented next week.
He also revealed that the panel’s investigation had traced the origin of the disputed budget allocation and uncovered the alleged use of forged documents to mislead government officials during the appropriation process.
According to the lawmaker, investigators found that Adeyemi allegedly created fictitious identities within the State House to facilitate the scheme.
The committee also questioned Esther Walson-Jack, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, alongside officials from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
The controversy has also drawn in Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu.
Adeyemi had claimed that Gbajabiamila issued his appointment letter to head the PFIPC, an allegation the Chief of Staff has strongly denied.
The Presidency has maintained that the appointment letter bearing Gbajabiamila’s signature was forged, while the Chief of Staff had earlier petitioned security agencies over the matter.
Adeyemi was arrested on July 14 by operatives of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in Osun State.
