Tunji Disu, inspector-general of Police (IGP), has declined to produce Adeniyi Adeyemi before the house of representatives ad hoc committee investigating the alleged N1.3 billion budgetary allocation to the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
On Monday, the committee directed the IGP to produce Adeyemi for interrogation over the operation of the PFIPC.
But representing Disu at the committee’s investigative hearing on Wednesday, Olufemi Akinola, deputy commissioner of police (DCP), said Adeyemi is being held in custody on a court order.
Akinola said the force won’t produce Adeyemi before the committee unless a warrant is obtained from a court of competent jurisdiction, ordering the police to comply with the request.
Responding, Yusuf Gagdi, chairman of the committee, said the panel recognised the limits of its powers and would not interfere with ongoing judicial proceedings.
He said the committee’s investigation was distinct from the criminal case already before the court, noting that lawmakers had no intention of undermining the work of law enforcement agencies.
“We are not commenting on the conspiracy and fraud charges already before the court because we respect the principle of separation of powers,” Gagdi said.
“The IGP did not refuse to present the suspect. He only explained that a court order currently remands him (Adeyemi) in police custody, and until that order is vacated or a warrant is obtained, the police cannot release him to appear before the national assembly.”
Gagdi said the committee would continue to request updates from the police as the panel prepares its preliminary findings, expected to be presented next week.
The lawmaker said the panel has uncovered how the disputed budgetary allocation originated and how “forged documents” were used to mislead public officials during the appropriation process.
The committee chairman said investigations showed Adeyemi created fictitious identities within the State House to facilitate the scheme.
The committee also grilled Esther Walson-Jack, head of the civil service of the federation (HoS), as well as officials and representatives of the accountant-general of the federation.
Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to President Bola Tinubu, is at the centre of the PFIPC controversy.
Adeyemi, the man accused of operating the agency, claimed the chief of staff issued his appointment letter — an allegation Gbajabiamila has denied.
The presidency had said the appointment letter bearing Gbajabiamila’s signature was forged, while the chief of staff had earlier petitioned security agencies over the matter.
Adeyemi was arrested on July 14 by operatives of the police intelligence response team (IRT) in Osun state.
