Adeyemi seeks media and lawyers’ presence as House probes PFIPC N1.32bn claims

The House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee investigating the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) is yet to decide the venue for questioning the council’s self-appointed Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi, a source familiar with the proceedings has disclosed.Adeyemi has insisted that his lawyers and journalists must be present before he submits to questioning by the panel.The committee, chaired by Yusuf Gagdi (representing Kanke/Kanam/Pankshin Federal Constituency of Plateau State), is probing how the PFIPC secured official office accommodation within the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja and received a budgetary allocation of more than N1.32 billion in the 2026 Appropriation Act despite allegedly having no legal existence.Adeyemi, currently in police custody over the controversy, is expected to appear before the committee this week after testimonies from senior government officials. As of Sunday, however, the venue remained undecided.A source, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed to The PUNCH that no decision had been taken on the location.The committee has already heard from key officials, including the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack; the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Tanimu Yakubu; the Director of Banking Services at the Central Bank of Nigeria, Hamisu Abdullahi; and representatives of the Inspector-General of Police.Their testimonies reportedly raised questions about how Adeyemi presented himself as head of the PFIPC and secured recognition and access within government circles.Adeyemi, through his lawyers, had indicated willingness to appear publicly and respond to the allegations. Committee chairman Gagdi said the venue would be determined later.Meanwhile, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has rejected the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission’s findings on the matter. CUPP spokesperson Agu Bryan described the ICPC report, which reportedly cleared the Presidency while indicting Adeyemi, as inadequate and a “charade."Bryan argued that Adeyemi could not have operated at such a high level without enablers within government institutions. He called for a broader probe into the roles of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Central Bank of Nigeria, and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.He also questioned how the PFIPC found its way into the national budget if it had no legal foundation and demanded explanations from the National Assembly and relevant ministries.Adeyemi, through his lawyer Ademola Oyedokun, had earlier rejected plans to question him at an undisclosed location while in police custody. The committee attempted to interrogate him on Thursday, but he declined, leading to a rescheduling for Monday.A family source said Adeyemi told the committee he would only answer questions if journalists and his legal representatives were present.“They eventually rescheduled to Monday and my brother told them that when they are coming, they should come with the media, otherwise he will not grant them audience.“Initially, they agreed to come with the media, but later they said they would not be coming with any media. They said if he refuses to grant them audience, they will go ahead and conclude their investigation and it will be said that he was the one who failed to grant them audience,” the source said.Adeyemi’s brother, Peter, earlier alleged that the committee tried to question him without his lawyers present. He insisted his brother was willing to state his side of the story in the same public manner as the allegations against him.Police spokesperson Ani Ineidu said visitors meeting the necessary requirements would be granted access to those in custody.In a statement, Oyedokun said Adeyemi welcomed the House investigation but opposed any closed-door interrogation, noting that others in the matter had been heard in public.Gagdi had explained that questioning Adeyemi in custody was necessary to avoid interfering with ongoing probes by the police, EFCC and ICPC, and that lawmakers could not override an existing court order detaining him.The committee is examining allegations of impersonation, forgery, financial impropriety and the unlawful use of government facilities and insignia linked to the PFIPC.    

Adeniyi Adeyemi insists on media and lawyers’ presence before facing the House of Reps probe into the N1.32bn PFIPC scandal. Get the latest updates. Read More: https://punchng.com/pfipc-scandal-adeyemi-demands-media-lawyers-presence-before-reps-probe/