Reps panel to question PFIPC’s Adeyemi in private

The ad hoc committee of the house of representatives probing the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) and its ₦1.3 billion budget allocation says Adeniyi Adeyemi will be questioned outside its public hearing.

The panel had earlier requested that Tunji Disu, inspector-general of police (IGP), produce Adeyemi to appear before the committee.

However, Disu declined the request, explaining that Adeyemi remains in police custody based on a valid court order.

The IGP also said the police would only release Adeyemi to the committee if directed by a court with the appropriate jurisdiction.

Addressing the hearing on Tuesday, Yusuf Gagdi, chairman of the committee, said the panel could not compel Adeyemi’s appearance because of the existing court order.

Gagdi said the committee would instead question Adeyemi at a separate venue and time that would not be made public, noting that the decision was intended to protect ongoing investigations by anti-corruption agencies.

“For the benefit of the general public, we are not refusing to invite Prince Adeniyi here. As an arm of government, we respect the principle of federalism and separation of powers. We respect the powers of the judiciary and the executive, and we equally limit ourselves within our own powers,” Gagdi said.

“We will not announce to the general public when we will interact with Prince Adeniyi because ICPC and EFCC are investigating this matter, and some aspect of this matter is before the court of law.

“To say that we will put the suspect under direct camera and interact with him the way we are interacting with everyone [heads of MDAs] here will definitely undermine the ongoing investigations by the EFCC and ICPC.

“In view of that, we are meeting him on an unannounced date and at an unannounced time. We will inform the police whenever we are going to meet him and, as directed by the court, it will be in the presence of his lawyers.”

On Sunday, Adeyemi, through his lawyers, appealed to the committee to grant him administrative clearance that would enable him to appear before the investigative panel.

Background

The controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) has drawn in Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to President Bola Tinubu.

Adeyemi, who claims to be the director-general of the agency, alleged that Gbajabiamila signed his appointment letter. The chief of staff, however, has denied making the appointment.

Adeyemi also alleged that he borrowed ₦400 million to secure the PFIPC DG position, adding that the individuals who lent him the money have since petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

On July 14, operatives of the police intelligence response team (IRT) arrested Adeyemi in Osun state, a few days after Gbajabiamila filed a ₦15 billion defamation suit against him.

Some heads of government agencies later told the committee that Adeyemi submitted forged documents, which they said were used to obtain budgetary allocations for the PFIPC.

During the committee’s hearing on July 27, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, accountant-general of the federation, alleged that Adeyemi intercepted a letter sent to the State House that would have exposed the forged documents linked to the PFIPC.

Two days later, Esther Walson-Jack, head of the civil service of the federation, told the panel that proper due diligence was not carried out before the PFIPC’s documents were verified and approvals were granted for its staffing structure and recruitment waiver.