The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has explained why the police was unable 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.
Key Highlights
- IGP Olatunji Disu explained why police could not produce Prince Adeyemi Adeniyi before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee.
- Adeniyi, who claims to be the Director-General of the alleged fake Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), is currently being held under a valid Federal High Court order.
- The police said it requires a production warrant or appropriate court order before bringing Adeniyi before the lawmakers.
- The police, represented by DCP Olufemi Akinola, reaffirmed its commitment to cooperating with the committee’s investigation.
- Committee chairman Rep. Yusuf Gagdi accepted the explanation and said the panel would obtain the necessary court order.
The committee, chaired by Rep. Yusuf Gagdi, had directed the police on Monday, to produce Adeyemi following testimonies from several government agencies that disowned the purported council.
However, at the committee’s resumed hearing on Wednesday, the inspector general of police, represented by Deputy Commissioner of Police Olufemi Akinola, said Adeyemi could not be brought before lawmakers because he is currently being held under a valid order of the Federal High Court.
Akinola told the committee that the police respect the oversight powers of the National Assembly, but require a production warrant or any other appropriate court order before complying with the lawmakers’ request.
He said the subsisting court order prevents the police from releasing the suspect without the approval of a competent court, adding that the police remain committed to cooperating with the committee’s investigation.
Responding, Rep..Gagdi accepted the explanation and assured the police that the panel would obtain the necessary production warrant from the court.
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He also pledged to notify the inspector-general of police once the order is secured.
The House of Representatives set up the ad hoc committee to investigate the activities of the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, following allegations that it operated without legal backing while presenting itself as a federal government agency.
During previous hearings, 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 and the police, had informed the committee they neither recognised nor had any official dealings with the council after discovering it was not a legitimate government agency.
The House ad hoc committee is expected to determine how the body came into existence, identify those responsible for its operations and recommend appropriate legislative and legal actions.
