Adeyemi Demands Lawyers, Media Presence at Reps Probe

Adeniyi Adeyemi, the controversial Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, has insisted that his lawyers and journalists must be present before he submits to questioning by the House of Representatives committee investigating the controversy surrounding the council.

Adeyemi is expected to appear before the House Ad Hoc Committee this week as lawmakers probe how the PFIPC allegedly secured office space within the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja and received more than N1.32bn in the 2026 Appropriation Act despite claims that it has no legal backing.

However, the committee has yet to decide where the questioning will take place.

The committee, chaired by Yusuf Gagdi, has already heard from senior government officials, including the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack; Director-General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu; Director of Banking Services at the Central Bank of Nigeria, Hamisu Abdullahi; and representatives of the Inspector-General of Police.

The testimonies have raised questions about how Adeyemi allegedly presented himself as the head of the PFIPC and gained access and recognition within government circles.

Adeyemi’s lawyer, Ademola Oyedokun, had earlier objected to plans by the committee to question his client at an undisclosed location while he remains in police custody.

Oyedokun said his client was willing to answer questions but wanted the process conducted publicly, particularly because allegations against him had already been made in public.

Adeyemi’s family also said he declined to answer questions when members of the committee visited him in custody because his lawyers were not present.

According to a family source, Adeyemi told the committee he would only submit to questioning if journalists and his legal representatives were allowed to attend.

The committee reportedly rescheduled the interrogation for Monday after Adeyemi declined to respond to questions during an earlier attempt.

The police have said lawmakers would be granted access to Adeyemi if they meet the necessary requirements for visiting a detainee.

Meanwhile, the Coalition of United Political Parties has criticised the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission’s handling of the PFIPC investigation and called for a broader inquiry.

CUPP spokesperson, Agu Bryan, described the ICPC findings, which reportedly cleared the Presidency while indicting Adeyemi, as inadequate.

Bryan questioned how an allegedly non-existent government agency could secure office accommodation, participate in official activities, recruit staff and receive a budgetary allocation without assistance or enabling actions from government officials.

He called for scrutiny of the roles of institutions including the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service and the Ministry of Budget and National Planning.

CUPP also questioned how the PFIPC found its way into the national budget if its legal existence had not been established.

The controversy intensified after investigators reportedly found that a signature attributed to the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, was forged.

Bryan said the finding should prompt investigators to examine other official documents and correspondence allegedly used by Adeyemi.

The House committee is investigating allegations of impersonation, forgery, financial impropriety and the unlawful use of government facilities and official insignia.

Adeyemi’s appearance before the committee is expected to provide lawmakers with an opportunity to hear his account directly and determine how the PFIPC was established, how it operated and how it allegedly gained access to government structures and processes.