The self-acclaimed Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi, has accused the Nigeria Police Force of unlawfully detaining him, urging the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee investigating the agency to conduct its probe openly and transparently.
Adeyemi made the appeal in a letter addressed to the Chairman of the House Committee, Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, while he remained in police custody following his arrest over allegations surrounding the operations of the PFIPC, an agency the Federal Government has repeatedly described as non-existent.
In the letter, Adeyemi alleged that his continued detention by the police violated his constitutional rights, insisting that he had not been given a fair opportunity to publicly defend himself against the allegations.
He maintained that he was prepared to appear before the House committee and answer every question concerning the establishment, activities and funding of the PFIPC, stressing that any investigation into the matter should be conducted in the open to ensure transparency and fairness.
“I am not afraid of investigation. Let the probe be conducted publicly so Nigerians can hear my side of the story,” Adeyemi reportedly stated, while insisting that he was being held illegally by the police.
The development comes as the House of Representatives intensifies its investigation into the controversial council, following allegations that the PFIPC, despite lacking legal backing, secured office accommodation at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja and received a budgetary allocation of about ₦1.32 billion in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
At an earlier investigative hearing, the House committee ordered the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun’s successor, IGP Olatunji Disu, to produce Adeyemi before lawmakers within 48 hours to explain the circumstances surrounding the operations of the agency.
However, when the committee reconvened, the police informed lawmakers that Adeyemi could not be produced because he was being held under a valid order of the Federal High Court. Dissatisfied with the explanation, the committee indicated it would seek a court order compelling the police to produce him before the panel.
The controversy surrounding the PFIPC began after the Presidency disowned the council, declaring that it was never established by the Federal Government. President Bola Tinubu subsequently directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the activities of the purported agency, including allegations of forged appointment letters, fraudulent official documents, unauthorized use of government facilities and the circumstances that led to its inclusion in the 2026 budget.
Lawmakers have vowed to continue the investigation, insisting that those responsible for the alleged creation, funding and operation of the controversial council will be held accountable in accordance with the law. They also reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that the inquiry is thorough, transparent and in the interest of protecting the integrity of Nigeria’s public institutions.
