The Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi, has insisted that his lawyers and journalists must be present before he appears before the House of Representatives committee investigating the council.
Adeyemi is currently in police custody over allegations surrounding the creation and operations of the PFIPC.
The House Ad Hoc Committee, led by Yusuf Gagdi, is investigating how the council allegedly secured office space at the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja and received more than N1.32bn in the 2026 Appropriation Act despite questions over its legal status.
Adeyemi’s lawyer, Ademola Oyedokun, had objected to plans by the committee to question his client at an undisclosed location, arguing that other parties in the matter had been heard publicly.
The committee attempted to question Adeyemi last week, but he declined to answer questions in the absence of his lawyers. The session was subsequently rescheduled.
A family source said Adeyemi had informed the committee that he would only submit to questioning if journalists and his legal representatives were allowed to attend.
The committee has yet to announce the venue for the session.
Meanwhile, the Coalition of United Political Parties has called for a broader investigation into the PFIPC controversy, questioning how an organisation allegedly lacking legal recognition was able to operate within government structures and receive budgetary allocation.
CUPP spokesperson, Agu Bryan, also questioned the roles of government institutions allegedly involved in processing documents connected to the council.
The coalition said the investigation should determine whether Adeyemi acted alone or had support from officials within government.
The House committee has already heard from senior government officials, including the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, Budget Office Director-General Tanimu Yakubu and representatives of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the police.
The committee is investigating allegations of impersonation, forgery, financial impropriety and the alleged unlawful use of government facilities and official insignia.
Adeyemi’s appearance before the lawmakers is expected to be a key part of the ongoing probe.
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