The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, has explained why the Nigeria Police Force failed to produce Prince Adeyemi Adeniyi, the self-acclaimed Director-General of the alleged fake Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), before the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee investigating the activities of the controversial body.
The explanation came on Wednesday during the committee’s resumed investigative hearing in Abuja, where lawmakers continued their probe into the operations of the purported council accused of presenting itself as a Federal Government agency without legal backing.
Court order prevented Adeyemi’s appearance
The committee had, during its previous sitting on Monday, directed the Inspector-General of Police to produce Adeyemi to answer questions arising from testimonies presented by several government institutions that distanced themselves from the council.
However, at Wednesday’s hearing, the IGP was represented by the Deputy Director of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, Deputy Commissioner of Police Olufemi Akinola, alongside Assistant Commissioner of Police Bashir Abdullahi.
Akinola told the committee that the police could not comply with the directive because Adeyemi is being held pursuant to a valid order of the Federal High Court.
According to him, the Force is legally bound by the subsisting court order and cannot produce the suspect before lawmakers without first obtaining a production warrant or another directive from a court of competent jurisdiction.
Police pledge cooperation with lawmakers
Akinola assured the committee that the Nigeria Police Force remains committed to cooperating with the National Assembly and fully recognises its constitutional oversight powers.
He stressed that the police had no intention of obstructing the investigation but must operate within the provisions of the law.
“The Nigeria Police Force may not be able to produce the suspect as requested in view of the subsisting warrant. The Nigeria Police Force recognises the constitutional oversight powers of the National Assembly and remains committed to cooperating with the committee in the discharge of its mandate.
“However, in this case, it will be appreciated if a production warrant could be obtained from a court of competent jurisdiction to enable the police to comply with this request,” Akinola said.
Reps panel accepts explanation
Responding to the police submission, Chairman of the House Ad Hoc Committee, Yusuf Gagdi, accepted the explanation and assured the Force that the committee would immediately begin the legal process of obtaining the required production warrant.
He said lawmakers would formally communicate with the Office of the Inspector-General of Police once the court order is secured to facilitate Adeyemi’s appearance before the panel.
Gagdi reaffirmed the committee’s determination to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the activities of the alleged fake council and ensure that all relevant persons appear before the panel.
Probe into alleged fake council continues
The House of Representatives constituted the ad hoc committee following allegations that the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council operated as a Federal Government agency without any legal recognition or statutory authority.
The committee is investigating the circumstances surrounding the creation of the body, its operations and those responsible for its activities.
During previous hearings, several government institutions, including 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 and the Nigeria Police Force, disowned the council.
The agencies informed lawmakers that they neither recognised the purported council nor had any official dealings with it, insisting that it was never established by the Federal Government.
Committee to continue investigation
The lawmakers are expected to continue the probe after obtaining the necessary court order to compel Adeyemi’s appearance before the committee.
The investigation is aimed at establishing how the alleged fake council emerged, identifying those behind its operations and recommending appropriate legislative and legal measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The committee is also expected to determine whether any public officials aided the activities of the purported council and ensure that anyone found culpable is held accountable in accordance with the law.