The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has revealed why he could not produce the self-acclaimed Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, PFIPC, before the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee.

In a letter to the committee on Wednesday, the police said the suspect was being investigated over allegations of conspiracy and forgery and is currently being held based on a valid court order.

The explanation followed Adeniyi’s failure to appear before lawmakers as earlier directed.

The letter was read during the committee’s sitting on Wednesday by its Chairman, Yusuf Gagdi, who said the police informed lawmakers that Adeniyi will remain in custody as part of an ongoing criminal investigation.

Speaking to members of the committee, Gagdi said the lawmakers decided to make the contents of the letter public to prevent any false impression that Adeniyi deliberately ignored the summons issued by the National Assembly.

According to him, the committee was fully aware of the constitutional principle of separation of powers and would not interfere with an active criminal investigation.

“We have a standing rule. We are mindful of it. 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.

The legislators stressed that the committee considered it necessary to clarify the situation for the public and the media.

The committee chairman, while providing further details from the correspondence sent by the police, explained that the Inspector-General stated that Adeniyi could not be released or brought before the committee because his detention was backed by a subsisting court 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 added.