The self-appointed Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi, has vowed that his lawyers and journalists must be present before he submits to questioning by the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee.
NEWSNGR reports that the committee, chaired by the lawmaker representing Kanke/Kanam/Pankshin Federal Constituency of Plateau State, Yusuf Gagdi, is probing how the PFIPC secured official office accommodation within the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja and received a budgetary allocation of more than ₦1.32 billion in the 2026 Appropriation Act despite allegedly having no legal existence.
A source told Punch that the committee is yet to decide where it will question Adeyemi.
Adeyemi, who has been in police custody over the controversy surrounding the council, is expected to appear before the committee this week, following testimonies from several senior government officials.
However, as of Sunday, the venue for the much-anticipated session remained unsettled.
A family source told the aforementioned publication that Adeyemi had informed the committee that he would only submit to questioning if journalists and his legal representatives were allowed to be 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.
The development came a day after Adeyemi’s family raised concerns over an attempt by members of the House committee to question him in police custody without his lawyers present.
Adeyemi’s brother, Peter, alleged that the detained promoter declined to answer questions because his legal representatives were absent.
“The Reps committee came and wanted to interrogate him, but he refused. They are still there trying to make him talk without any of his lawyers being present. We are crying out loud so that the right thing would be done
“He has stated that he wants to be quizzed the same way others who have accused him have spoken. It’s not that he is not willing to state his side of the story,” he said.
When the aforementioned publication contacted the police on whether they were aware of the committee’s proposed visit and whether the lawmakers would be granted access to Adeyemi, the police spokesperson, Ani Ineidu, said visitors would be allowed provided they met the necessary requirements.
“Yes, if they have necessary documents. I’m not aware if they have relevant documents or authorisation, but if they fulfil the conditions, everybody who is under police custody has a right to visitors.
“So, in a case like this, if they have that right, they will be granted access,” Ineidu said.
