The explanation was contained in a letter to the committee, which was read on Wednesday by its Chairman, Yusuf Gagdi (APC–Plateau), after Adeniyi failed to appear before lawmakers as earlier directed.
Reading the letter, Gagdi said the police informed the committee that Adeniyi remains in custody over an ongoing criminal investigation involving alleged conspiracy and forgery.
“The first leg of the investigation is conspiracy and forgery, which is what has taken the man into custody. We are a respecter of the principle of the separation of powers,” Gagdi said.
He explained that the committee made the police correspondence public to dispel reports suggesting the suspect had ignored the lawmakers’ summons.
“I decided to read the letter so that members of the press would not say the man failed to show up. We have proceedings and procedures,” he added.
According to the committee chairman, the IGP stated that Adeniyi could not be released to appear before the panel because he is being held under a valid court remand order.
“The IG said the man is in custody because of a standing court order. He stated that the court remanded him, and that is why he is in custody. So, for him to be here, the court order has to be vacated before he can be brought to the National Assembly,” Gagdi explained.
He stressed that the committee would not interfere with the ongoing police investigation or judicial process.
“We respect the good jobs the Inspector-General of Police, the Police, DSS, ICPC, EFCC and the National Security Adviser are doing, and we would not undermine the whole process,” he said.
Gagdi added that the committee would continue engaging the police and other relevant agencies as the investigation progresses and is expected to consider its report when the matter resumes next week.
The House panel is investigating how the alleged PFIPC secured office space at the Federal Secretariat and received a ₦1.32 billion allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Act despite claims that it was never legally established as a government agency.
Adeniyi is also under police investigation over allegations of conspiracy, forgery and falsely presenting himself as the Director-General of the purported council.
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