IGP Declines to Produce Adeyemi Before Reps Panel, Cites Court Order

Police say court order prevents Adeyemi’s appearance before lawmakers investigating the controversial PFIPC budget allocation.

Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tunji Disu has declined to produce Adeniyi Adeyemi before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the alleged ₦1.3 billion budgetary allocation to the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).

The committee had directed the IGP on Monday to present Adeyemi for questioning over the operations of the controversial council.

However, at the committee’s investigative hearing on Wednesday, Deputy Commissioner of Police Olufemi Akinola, who represented the IGP, said Adeyemi could not be released because he is being held in police custody under a valid court order.

Akinola explained that the police would only comply with the committee’s request if directed by a court of competent jurisdiction through an appropriate warrant.

Responding, the committee chairman, Yusuf Gagdi, said lawmakers recognised the constitutional limits of their powers and would not interfere with ongoing judicial proceedings.

He clarified that the committee’s inquiry was separate from the criminal charges already before the court and was not intended to obstruct law enforcement agencies.

According to Gagdi, the police did not reject the committee’s request outright but merely explained that the existing remand order prevented Adeyemi’s release.

He added that the committee would continue receiving updates from the police while preparing its preliminary findings, which are expected to be presented next week.

Gagdi also disclosed that the panel had uncovered details of how the disputed budgetary allocation originated and alleged that forged documents were used to mislead public officials during the appropriation process.

He further claimed that investigations showed Adeyemi created fictitious identities within the State House to facilitate the alleged scheme.

The committee also questioned Esther Walson-Jack, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, alongside officials and representatives from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

The PFIPC controversy has also drawn in Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, after Adeyemi alleged that his appointment letter was issued by the presidential aide.

Gbajabiamila has denied the allegation, while the Presidency insisted the appointment letter bearing his signature was forged. Adeyemi was arrested on July 14 by operatives of the Police Intelligence Response Team in Osun State.