Explosive PFIPC Probe: Police Refuse to Release Detained DG, Politicization Looms

The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee, chaired by Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, is currently investigating the controversial inclusion of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) in the 2026 Appropriation Act. A key challenge in this investigation emerged when the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, stated that the police could not produce Adeyemi Adeniyi, the embattled Director General of the PFIPC, without a reproduction warrant from a competent court. A police team, including Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Olufemi Akinola and Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Bashir Abdullahi, conveyed this request during a resumed investigative hearing in Abuja. DCP Akinola clarified that the IGP is committed to cooperating but is constrained by a subsisting warrant for Adeniyi's detention. Hon. Gagdi acknowledged the police's cooperation, emphasizing that their inability to produce Adeniyi was due to legal constraints rather than a refusal to honor the committee's invitation.

Adding another layer to the controversies, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, admitted to administrative errors in processing approvals related to the purported Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC). She acknowledged a failure in due diligence before recognizing it as an ad hoc office, describing the incident as unprecedented in her office's history. Meanwhile, Hon. Gagdi announced that the committee had secured approval from Speaker Hon. Abbas Tajudeen to present its preliminary findings to the public next week, after hearing from remaining stakeholders, reiterating the committee's commitment to a transparent and thorough investigation.

However, the President and Convener of the Civil Society Groups for Good Governance, Ogaku Dominic, raised significant concerns regarding the investigation. Speaking on Arise News, Dominic warned that concluding the probe without hearing from key individuals, particularly Adeyemi Adeniyi and the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, would politicize the investigation and erode public confidence. He described the controversy as "one of the biggest scandals that has rocked the nation," asserting that a mere parliamentary investigation was insufficient to deliver justice and uncover the full extent of the alleged fraud. Dominic argued that Nigerians deserve to hear directly from all those alleged to have been involved, emphasizing that failure to obtain these testimonies could lead to the perception that the matter has been politicized.

Dominic also reacted to the admission of administrative errors by the Head of the Civil Service, stating that merely acknowledging the mistake should not suffice. He advocated for accountability, suggesting that public officials who fail in their responsibilities should have the moral obligation to resign as a demonstration of taking responsibility. While commending the House committee for initiating the probe, Dominic criticized its perceived failure to identify those responsible for facilitating the alleged scheme. He called for a broader investigation beyond the National Assembly, advocating for the establishment of an independent investigative panel, supported by forensic investigators, to examine the matter without political interference. He further suggested that multiple investigations, including those by anti-corruption agencies, should proceed simultaneously before their findings are harmonized to establish the full truth of the PFIPC controversy.