The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has explained why Prince Adeyemi Adeniyi, the self-acclaimed Director-General of the alleged Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), was not produced before the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee investigating the organisation.
The development came after the committee directed the IGP to produce Adeniyi before lawmakers to assist its investigation into the circumstances surrounding the alleged council.
The police conveyed the explanation in an official letter to the committee, which was read during its sitting on Wednesday by the committee’s Chairman, Yusuf Gagdi.
According to the letter, Adeniyi remains in police custody as part of an ongoing criminal investigation into allegations of conspiracy and forgery and is being detained on the strength of a subsisting court order.
Explaining why the letter was read publicly, Gagdi said it was necessary to prevent any impression that the committee’s directive had been ignored.
He added that the House would not interfere with an ongoing criminal investigation, in line with the constitutional principle of separation of powers.
“We have a standing rule. We are mindful of it,” Gagdi said.
“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 further explained that the IGP informed lawmakers that Adeniyi could not be produced because his detention was backed by a subsisting 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,” he said.
The committee chairman stressed that lawmakers would not take any action capable of disrupting the work of law enforcement and anti-corruption 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.
He disclosed that the committee would continue to engage the police and other agencies handling the matter to obtain updates and clarify outstanding issues before concluding its assignment.
“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.