THE House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee investigating the activities of the alleged Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) on Wednesday declared the appointment letter presented by its self-acclaimed Director-General, Mr. Adeniyi Adeyemi, as fake, even as the Nigeria Police Force failed to produce him before lawmakers despite an earlier directive.
News Point Nigeria reports that police officials informed the committee that Adeyemi, who is currently in custody, could not be released to appear before the lawmakers without a written court warrant authorising his production, as he is being held under a valid remand order.
The committee, chaired by Rep. Yusuf Gagdi (APC, Plateau), had on Monday directed the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, to produce Adeyemi before the panel by noon on Wednesday to assist in the ongoing investigation into the activities of the alleged phantom agency.
However, when the committee reconvened in Abuja on Wednesday, representatives of the Nigeria Police Force explained that although the police remained committed to cooperating with the House investigation, compliance with the committee’s directive must not conflict with existing judicial orders.
The police informed lawmakers that Adeyemi was being held pursuant to a valid court remand order and, therefore, could not be produced before the committee without the necessary legal authorisation from the court.
They consequently requested the committee to obtain an appropriate court-backed warrant or written legal authorisation to enable them produce the suspect before lawmakers without violating the remand order.
During the hearing, the committee also declared that the appointment letter presented by Adeyemi, who identified himself as the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, was fake.
Chairman of the committee, Yusuf Gagdi, disclosed that the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who appeared before the panel for the second time, also confirmed that the documents presented by Adeyemi were not authentic.
“It was established that the so-called letter of appointment was fake, confirmed by different agencies, and the Act presented to the Head of Service was equally fake, forged by the DG; it was established,” Gagdi said.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation appeared before the committee in compliance with its summons following an earlier invitation to make her final submissions on the matter.
Also present at the hearing were Deputy Commissioner of Police Olufemi Akinola and Assistant Commissioner of Police Bashir Abdullahi, who represented the Inspector-General of Police.
Despite the committee’s earlier directive, Adeyemi did not appear before the lawmakers.
News Point Nigeria recalls that the committee had on Monday described the establishment and operation of the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council as a serious breach and directed the Inspector-General of Police to produce Adeyemi within 48 hours.
The lawmakers maintained that Adeyemi’s appearance remains necessary to explain how the alleged council secured official recognition and processed government correspondence as the committee continues its investigation into its operations.