Family demands public hearing as Adeyemi declines interrogation without counsel.

Fresh controversy has emerged over the House of Representatives’ investigation into the alleged operations of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), as the family of the purported Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi, alleged that lawmakers attempted to question him in police custody without the presence of his legal representatives.

Speaking with The PUNCH on Thursday, Adeyemi’s brother, Peter Adeyemi, said members of the House Ad-hoc Committee visited the detention facility where the suspect is being held but were unable to obtain his statement after he insisted that his lawyers be present.
According to Peter, Adeyemi declined to answer the lawmakers’ questions, maintaining that he would only participate in the investigation with legal representation. He alleged that efforts were still being made to question him without his lawyers and stressed that due process should be followed.
Peter said the family was not opposed to the House investigation but wanted Adeyemi to be given the opportunity to defend himself publicly, just as the allegations against him were made during open hearings. He added that Adeyemi had consistently maintained his readiness to respond to all allegations in a transparent manner.
The latest claim follows Wednesday’s statement by Adeyemi’s lawyer, Ademola Oyedokun, who rejected the House committee’s decision to question his client at an undisclosed location while he remains in police custody. The lawyer argued that a closed-door session would deny his client the opportunity to publicly address allegations already presented before the committee.
Earlier this week, Chairman of the House Ad-hoc Committee, Yusuf Gagdi, explained that the panel planned to question Adeyemi outside the National Assembly to avoid interfering with ongoing investigations by the Nigeria Police Force, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Gagdi said the committee had been informed that Adeyemi remained in police custody under a court order, adding that the lawmakers would not take any action capable of conflicting with ongoing judicial proceedings.
The committee is investigating allegations surrounding the establishment and operations of the PFIPC, including claims of impersonation, forgery, financial misconduct, and the alleged unlawful use of government facilities and official insignia.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the House committee nor the Nigeria Police Force had responded to the family’s latest allegations.