The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has explained why the Nigeria Police Force was unable to present Prince Adeyemi Adeniyi, the self-acclaimed Director-General of the alleged fake Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, before the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee probing the organisation’s activities.
The Punch reported that the committee, headed by the lawmaker representing Kanke/Kanam/Pankshin Federal Constituency of Plateau State, Yusuf Gagdi, had on Monday directed the IGP to produce Adeyemi to respond to issues raised during testimonies from several government agencies.
The directive came after 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 of the Federation, the Nigeria Police Force and other institutions informed the panel that they had no affiliation with the purported council.
When the investigative hearing resumed on Wednesday, the Inspector-General was represented by the Deputy Director of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, Deputy Commissioner of Police Olufemi Akinola, accompanied by Assistant Commissioner of Police Bashir Abdullahi.
Speaking before the committee, Akinola explained that Adeyemi remained in police custody under the authority of an existing order of the Federal High Court, making it impossible for the police to produce him without further judicial approval.
He said the force would require a production warrant or another valid court order before complying with the committee’s directive.
“We are here to convey the confidence of the Inspector-General of Police.
“The Nigeria Police Force may not be able to produce the suspect as requested in view of the subsisting warrant. The Nigeria Police Force recognises the constitutional oversight powers of the National Assembly and remains committed to cooperating with the committee in the discharge of its mandate.
“However, in this case, it will be appreciated if a production warrant could be obtained from a court of competent jurisdiction to enable the police to comply with this request,” Akinola said.
Responding, committee chairman Yusuf Gagdi accepted the police’s explanation and assured members that the panel would initiate the necessary legal process to obtain the required court order.
He further stated that the committee would formally notify the Office of the Inspector-General of Police immediately after securing the order.
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 authority while presenting itself as an agency of the Federal Government.
At 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 and the Budget Office of the Federation all told the committee that they neither recognised the council nor conducted any official business with it after establishing that it was not a legitimate government body.
The committee is expected to determine how the organisation was created and operated, identify those behind its activities, and recommend appropriate legislative and legal measures.
