The police boss cites court order for failing to produce the ‘fake’ Director-General of PFIPC before the House committee
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, has explained why the alleged self-proclaimed Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), Prince Adeyemi Adeniyi, was not produced before the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee investigating the activities of the purported agency.
The explanation was contained in a letter from the Nigeria Police Force, which was read during the committee’s sitting on Wednesday by its Chairman, Yusuf Gagdi (APC, Plateau), after Adeniyi failed to appear before lawmakers as previously directed.
The House panel last week directed the IGP to produce the self-acclaimed PFIPC DG before the committee.
According to Gagdi, the police informed the committee that Adeniyi remains in custody over an ongoing criminal investigation involving allegations of conspiracy and forgery.
Reading from the correspondence, Gagdi said the police were acting in line with legal procedures and that the committee respected the principle of separation of powers.
“The first leg of the investigation is conspiracy and forgery, which is what has taken the man into custody. We are a respecter of the principle of the separation of powers,” he said.
The lawmaker noted that he made the police letter public to dispel any impression that Adeniyi had ignored the committee’s summons.
“I decided to read the letter so that members of the press would not say the man failed to show up. We have proceedings and procedures,” Gagdi stated.
He further disclosed that the IGP explained Adeniyi could not be released to appear before the committee because he is being detained under a valid court order.
“The IG said the man is in custody because of a standing court order. He stated that the court remanded him, and that is why he is in custody. So, for him to be here, the court order has to be vacated before he can be brought to the National Assembly,” Rep. Gagdi explained.
He stressed that the committee would not interfere with the ongoing police investigation or judicial process, commending the efforts of security and anti-corruption agencies handling the matter.
“We cannot tamper with the ongoing investigation. We respect the good jobs the Inspector-General of Police, the Police, DSS, ICPC, EFCC and the National Security Adviser are doing, and we would not undermine the whole process,” he said.
Gagdi added that the committee would continue to engage the police and other relevant agencies to obtain updates and clarify outstanding issues.
“We will keep writing to you so that we have further reports and clarify grey areas. By next week, we can lay our report on the resumption of this case,” he added.
The House panel is probing how the alleged PFIPC obtained office accommodation at the Federal Secretariat and secured a ₦1.32 billion allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Act despite claims that the council was never legally established as a government agency.
Adeniyi is also being investigated by the police over allegations of conspiracy, forgery and falsely presenting himself as the Director-General of the purported council.
