The purported Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, Adeniyi Adeyemi, has rejected plans by the House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the council to interrogate him at an undisclosed location, insisting that any appearance before lawmakers should be done publicly
Adeyemi, through his lawyer, Ademola Oyedokun, said on Wednesday that he welcomed the House investigation into the alleged establishment and operations of the PFIPC but opposed any attempt to question him behind closed doors.
Oyedokun argued that Adeyemi should be given the opportunity to publicly respond to allegations made against him during the committee’s open hearings.
“We have read that the committee intends to interview our client at an undisclosed date and place. We ask it, respectfully, to think again.
“Everyone else in this matter has been heard in public, and what has been said about our client was said in public. He should be allowed to answer in the same place it was said,” the statement read.
The lawyer urged the committee to invoke its constitutional powers under Section 89 of the Constitution to compel the police to produce Adeyemi at a public sitting.
“Section 89 of the Constitution gives the committee power to summon any person and to compel his attendance.
“We ask it to use that power and to require the police to produce our client at a public sitting.
“He will attend on any date it names, with his counsel, and answer every question put to him,” he said.
Oyedokun said the criminal allegations against his client would be addressed before the Federal High Court and relevant investigative agencies, but maintained that the House inquiry into the creation of the PFIPC and alleged involvement of government officials should be conducted openly.
He said Adeyemi would cooperate with the committee but reserve, on legal advice, responses to questions relating to matters currently before a court or investigative agency.
“Our client does not ask the committee to compromise any investigation. He will answer in public the questions this committee was constituted to ask, and will reserve, upon legal advice, any question touching a matter before a court or an agency.
“Those may be taken separately and in private. What cannot be right is that the whole of his account be taken behind a closed door because part of it is sensitive.
“We will not argue our client’s case in a press statement. The allegations are before the Federal High Court and before several agencies, and they will be answered there, on oath.
“But this committee is asking a different question: how this council came to exist, and who in government acted upon it.
“That question our client is anxious to answer, and Nigerians are entitled to hear it answered in public. We ask only that they remember, meanwhile, that no court has yet heard him say a single word,” he said.
The lawyer also questioned the legality of Adeyemi’s continued detention, arguing that the bench warrant relied upon by the police only authorised his arrest and production before the Federal High Court.
“No order committing him to custody has ever been made, served on him or shown to him, and none could have been made, because he has never been brought before any court,” he said.
The House ad hoc committee had on Tuesday announced plans to question Adeyemi at an undisclosed location while he remains in police custody.
Chairman of the committee, Yusuf Gagdi, said the arrangement was necessary to avoid interfering with ongoing investigations by the Nigerian Police Force, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
Gagdi said the committee had invited Adeyemi but was informed by the police that he remained in custody pursuant to a court order.
He maintained that the National Assembly would not take any action capable of undermining the judiciary or violating the principle of separation of powers.
According to him, lawmakers lacked the authority to override an existing court order directing Adeyemi’s detention.
The committee is investigating allegations surrounding the creation and operations of the PFIPC, including claims of impersonation, forgery, financial impropriety and unlawful use of government facilities and official insignia.
