IGP declines to produce Adeniyi Adeyemi before reps panel, cites court order

 Tunji Disu, Inspector-General of Police (IGP), has declined
to produce Adeniyi Adeyemi before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee
investigating the alleged N1.3 billion budgetary allocation to the Presidential
Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).

 

On Monday, the committee directed the IGP to produce Adeyemi
for interrogation over the operation of the PFIPC.

But representing Disu at the committee’s investigative
hearing on Wednesday, Olufemi Akinola, deputy commissioner of police (DCP),
said Adeyemi is being held in custody on a court order.

Akinola said the force won’t produce Adeyemi before the
committee unless a warrant is obtained from a court of competent jurisdiction,
ordering the police to comply with the request.

Responding, Yusuf Gagdi, chairman of the committee, said the
panel recognised the limits of its powers and would not interfere with ongoing
judicial proceedings.

He said the committee’s investigation was distinct from the
criminal case already before the court, noting that lawmakers had no intention
of undermining the work of law enforcement agencies.

“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 said the committee would continue to request updates
from the police as the panel prepares its preliminary findings, expected to be
presented next week.

The lawmaker said the panel has uncovered how the disputed
budgetary allocation originated and how “forged documents” were used to mislead
public officials during the appropriation process.

The committee chairman said investigations showed Adeyemi
created fictitious identities within the State House to facilitate the scheme.

The committee also grilled Esther Walson-Jack, head of the
civil service of the federation (HoS), as well as officials and representatives
of the accountant-general of the federation.

Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to President Bola Tinubu,
is at the centre of the PFIPC controversy.

Adeyemi, the man accused of operating the agency, claimed
the chief of staff issued his appointment letter — an allegation Gbajabiamila
has denied.

The presidency had said 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 on July 14 by operatives of the police
intelligence response team (IRT) in Osun state.

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