The Nigeria Police Force has declined the House of Representatives ad hoc committee’s request to present Adeniyi Adeyemi, the man at the centre of the alleged ₦1.3 billion Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) budget controversy, for questioning.
The committee had directed the Inspector-General of Police to produce Adeyemi during its sitting on Monday as part of its investigation into the controversial budget allocation.
However, at the committee’s hearing on Wednesday, Deputy Commissioner of Police Olufemi Akinola, who represented the Inspector-General, 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 with the appropriate jurisdiction.
Reacting to the development, the committee’s chairman, Yusuf Gagdi, said lawmakers respected the judicial process and would not interfere with matters already before the courts.
“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 added that the panel would continue engaging the police while preparing its preliminary report, which is expected to be submitted next week.
According to him, the investigation has already traced how the disputed budget provision was introduced and uncovered the alleged use of forged documents during the appropriation process.
He further alleged that evidence before the committee indicated Adeyemi created fake identities within the Presidency to facilitate the scheme.
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During Wednesday’s proceedings, the committee also questioned the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Esther Walson-Jack, alongside officials from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
The controversy has also drawn in the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Adeyemi had claimed that Gbajabiamila signed his appointment letter to head the PFIPC, an allegation the Chief of Staff has consistently denied.
The Presidency has maintained that 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 by operatives of the Police Intelligence Response Team in Osun State on July 14.