“We Can’t Produce Him” — IGP Explains Adeyemi’s Absence at PFIPC Hearing

“We Can’t Produce Him” — IGP Explains Adeyemi’s Absence at PFIPC Hearing

• The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has told the House of Representatives that the self-acclaimed Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeyemi Adeniyi, could not be produced before lawmakers because he is being held in custody pursuant to a valid court order.

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has explained why the Nigeria Police Force failed to produce Adeyemi Adeniyi, the self-styled Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) , before the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee investigating the activities of the purported agency. The committee, chaired by Honourable Yusuf Gagdi, had on Monday directed the IGP to produce Adeyemi before the panel by noon on Wednesday to answer questions arising from testimonies presented by several government institutions. The directive followed submissions from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Budget Office of the Federation, the Nigeria Police Force and other agencies, all of which distanced themselves from the purported council.

At the resumed investigative hearing on Wednesday, the IGP was represented by Deputy Commissioner of Police Olufemi Akinola, who appeared alongside Assistant Commissioner of Police Bashir Abdullahi. Addressing the committee, Akinola explained that Adeyemi could not be produced because he was being held pursuant to a valid order of the Federal High Court. “We are here to convey the confidence of the Inspector-General of Police. The Nigeria Police Force may not be able to produce the suspect as requested in view of the subsisting warrant,” Akinola said. He stated that the police would require a production warrant or other appropriate order from the court before complying with the committee’s request. Reading the police correspondence, Committee Chairman Yusuf Gagdi informed lawmakers that the IGP had explained that Adeyemi remained in custody in connection with an ongoing criminal investigation into alleged conspiracy and forgery. “We have a standing rule. We are mindful of it. 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,” Gagdi said. The chairman noted that he made the letter public to prevent the impression that Adeyemi had deliberately 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,” he stated.

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The police had earlier confirmed that the Nigeria Police Force investigated part of the case late last year and filed eight-count charges against Adeyemi before the Federal High Court. The investigation was initiated following a petition dated October 17, 2025, from the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, alleging that Adeyemi falsely presented himself as Director-General of both the Presidential Economic Advisory Council and the PFIPC. According to the police, further petitions alleged that the suspect used the purported office to secure accommodation at the Phase III Federal Secretariat in Abuja, sought approval to recruit about 300 personnel, attempted to obtain a N1.32 billion allocation for the council in the 2026 Appropriation Act, and planned to organise a World Investment Summit under the council’s platform. The police representative had earlier cautioned lawmakers against demanding disclosures that could prejudice the ongoing criminal investigation and court proceedings. “We don’t want to say things that are under investigation. It is definitely going to prejudice the ongoing investigation and make people have opinions that may prejudge the outcome of an investigation or judicial decision,” Abdullahi had told the committee.

In response to the police explanation, the committee chairman, Yusuf Gagdi, accepted the explanation and assured the police that the committee would take the necessary legal steps to obtain the required court order. He also pledged that the committee would communicate with the Office of the Inspector-General of Police as soon as the order is secured. Gagdi emphasised that the committee would respect the powers of the judiciary and would not interfere with the criminal investigation being conducted by security agencies. “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,” Gagdi said.

During the investigation, the committee had uncovered about 29 documents suspected of being forged in connection with the operations of the purported agency. The documents included purported approvals from the State House, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Federal Ministry of Finance and several other government institutions. One of the highlights of the hearing was the committee’s examination of signatures on documents allegedly issued from the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President. When lawmakers asked whether the signatures matched authentic official correspondence, the police witness replied: “They are not the same.” Reacting, Gagdi said the findings had reinforced suspicions that several official government documents were forged. “So, it is not only a letter that was suspected to be forged? We are dealing with documents that include what is said to be a forged Act of the National Assembly in an attempt to establish a fake agency,” he said.

The PFIPC has been in the news recently after the Presidency disowned the agency amid revelations that it received a N1.32 billion appropriation in the 2026 budget and opened accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria. President Bola Tinubu ordered the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate and submit a comprehensive report within 30 days. The House of Representatives constituted the ad hoc committee to investigate the activities of the purported council following allegations that it operated without legal backing while presenting itself as a Federal Government agency. The committee’s ongoing investigation is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the creation and operations of the body, identify those responsible, and recommend appropriate legislative and legal actions. Gagdi disclosed that the committee would continue to correspond with the police and other relevant agencies to obtain further information and resolve outstanding issues, with the aim of laying its report by next week.

“We Can’t Produce Him” — IGP Explains Adeyemi’s Absence at PFIPC Hearing