FEATURES
PFIPC Saga: Adeyemi Rejects Closed-Door Investigation by Reps
Adeniyi Adeyemi, the purported Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), has rejected plans by the House of Representatives ad hoc committee to interrogate him at a secret location while he remains in police custody, insisting that any appearance before lawmakers must be conducted in the open.
Speaking through his lawyer, Ademola Oyedokun, on Wednesday, Adeyemi said he welcomed the House investigation into the alleged establishment and operations of the controversial council but opposed being questioned behind closed doors.
According to Oyedokun, fairness requires that Adeyemi be given the same public platform to respond to allegations that were made against him during the committee’s open hearings.
“We have read that the committee intends to interview our client at an undisclosed date and place. We respectfully urge it to reconsider. Everyone else involved in this matter has testified publicly, and the allegations against our client were made in public. He should be allowed to respond in the same forum,” the lawyer said.
Oyedokun called on the committee to invoke its constitutional powers under Section 89 of the 1999 Constitution to compel the Nigeria Police Force to produce Adeyemi before a public sitting of the House.
He stated that Adeyemi was prepared to appear before the committee with his legal team on any date fixed by lawmakers and answer questions relating to the committee’s mandate.
“Our client does not seek to obstruct any ongoing investigation. He is ready to answer publicly the questions the committee was established to examine while reserving, on legal advice, responses to matters already before the courts or investigative agencies. Those issues can be addressed separately where necessary,” he said.
The lawyer stressed that the House inquiry into how the PFIPC was created and whether government officials acted upon it was distinct from the criminal allegations currently before the Federal High Court and other investigative bodies.
He added that while those criminal allegations would be addressed through the judicial process, Nigerians deserved to hear Adeyemi’s account of the council’s formation and operations during a public legislative hearing.
Oyedokun also questioned the legality of his client’s continued detention, arguing that the bench warrant cited by the police only authorised Adeyemi’s arrest and appearance before the Federal High Court, not his prolonged detention.
He maintained that no court had issued or served an order remanding Adeyemi in custody, noting that his client had not yet been brought before any court.
The House of Representatives ad hoc committee had on Tuesday announced plans to question Adeyemi at an undisclosed location while he remains in police custody.
Committee Chairman, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, said the decision was intended to avoid interfering with ongoing investigations by the Nigeria Police Force, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Punch reports that Gagdi explained that although the committee had invited Adeyemi to appear before lawmakers, the police informed it that he remained in custody pursuant to a court order.
He added that the National Assembly would not take actions capable of undermining the judiciary or violating the principle of separation of powers, stressing that lawmakers lacked the authority to override an existing court directive.
The committee is investigating allegations surrounding the creation and operations of the PFIPC, including claims of impersonation, forgery, financial misconduct, and the unlawful use of government facilities and official insignia.