Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police has explained why the man accused of presenting himself as the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) was not produced before a parliamentary investigative panel, saying he remains in lawful custody under a court order.
The explanation came after Prince Adeyemi Adeniyi failed to appear before a House of Representatives ad hoc committee probing the activities of the controversial council, which lawmakers believe may have operated without legal backing.
Committee Chairman Yusuf Gagdi told lawmakers that the police formally informed the panel that Adeniyi is currently being investigated over allegations of conspiracy and forgery. According to him, the suspect cannot be released for the hearing because a valid court order has directed that he remain in custody while investigations continue.
Gagdi said the committee decided to publicly read the police correspondence to prevent any impression that the suspect had ignored the invitation issued by lawmakers. He stressed that the National Assembly respects the constitutional separation of powers and would not interfere with ongoing police investigations or judicial proceedings.
He further explained that any appearance before the committee would require changes to the existing court order, making it impossible for the police to present the suspect at this stage.
The committee also expressed support for the work of security and anti-corruption agencies involved in the case, including the Police, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Lawmakers said they would continue requesting updates from the relevant agencies as the investigation progresses and expect to receive additional reports before concluding their inquiry.
The parliamentary investigation is focused on how the alleged Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council reportedly secured office space within Nigeria’s Federal Secretariat and received a budget allocation of ₦1.32 billion in the 2026 national budget despite claims that the organisation was never legally established as a federal government agency.
Authorities are also investigating allegations that Adeniyi falsely presented himself as the head of the council while engaging in activities linked to the disputed agency.
The outcome of the investigations is expected to determine whether criminal charges will be expanded and whether further action will be taken against individuals connected to the establishment and operations of the alleged agency.
