Court Order Blocks PFIPC Suspect’s Appearance as Reps Allege 19 Forged Documents

The Inspector General of Police says only a vacation of a subsisting court order can make the Nigeria Police Force produce the self-acclaimed Director-General of the unestablished agency, Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council  (PFIPC),  Adeyemi Adeniyi, before lawmakers.

The House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee also says its preliminary findings show that Mr Adeyemi forged more than 19 documents, including the signature of the Chief of Staff to the President.

At the resumed sitting of the committee investigating the Presidential Economic Advisory Council and PFIPC, on Wednesday, the IGP, Olatunji Disu, was expected to produce the suspect for testimony.

But the IGP, represented by Deputy Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Akinola, told lawmakers the suspect is in custody under a court remand order.

He said only the vacation of that order can enable the Police to present him and advised the committee to approach the court.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, reiterated that the purported letter of appointment and the Act establishing the agency were forged. She also confirmed that the signature of the Chief of Staff to the President was forged.

Mrs Walson-Jack admitted her office failed to carry out due diligence and promised to review its processes to make them more fraud-proof.

Officials from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation said the letter requesting an administrative code for the non-existent agency came from a fictitious department in the State House.

One official, Bello Abdullahi, admitted he personally handed an official letter to Mr Adeyemi, an action he admitted violated civil service practice.

In its preliminary report, the committee said it has established that the Chief of Staff’s signature, the purported appointment letter, and several other documents were forged.

The Committee said it has concluded preliminary investigations and will conclude its work behind closed doors.

It promised to release an in-depth preliminary report next week, and submit a final comprehensive report to the House when it resumes in September.