PFIPC Probe Deepens as Police Insist on Court Order to Produce Detained DG, Civil Service Admits Costly Lapse

The unfolding controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) took another dramatic twist on Wednesday as the Nigeria Police Force told the House of Representatives that it could…

Sulaiman Umar July 30, 2026  ·  12:00 AM
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PFIPC Probe Deepens as Police Insist on Court Order to Produce Detained DG, Civil Service Admits Costly Lapse
PFIPC Probe Deepens as Police Insist on Court Order to Produce Detained DG, Civil Service Admits Costly Lapse

The unfolding controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) took another dramatic twist on Wednesday as the Nigeria Police Force told the House of Representatives that it could not produce the council’s detained Director-General, Prince Adeyemi Matthew Adeniyi, without a fresh court order.

The development emerged during the resumed hearing of the House Ad-hoc Committee investigating the controversial inclusion of the PFIPC in the 2026 Appropriation Act.

Representing the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, a police delegation led by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Olufemi Akinola and Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Bashir Abdullahi informed lawmakers that Adeniyi remains in custody under a valid court-issued detention warrant.

Akinola said the police were willing to cooperate fully with the committee but could not release or produce the suspect for questioning unless lawmakers obtained a reproduction warrant from a competent court.

“The IGP is committed to cooperating with the committee in carrying out its assignment. However, the suspect is currently being held based on a subsisting warrant for his detention. We believe the committee should obtain a court reproduction warrant to enable us produce him,” he said.

The explanation followed concerns that the police had ignored an earlier directive to present Adeniyi before the committee.

Responding, committee chairman and member representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency of Plateau State, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, clarified that the police had not refused to comply with the committee’s request.

According to him, the challenge is purely legal, as the suspect remains in custody under an existing court order.

“The police did not refuse to produce him. The issue is that he is presently being held based on a subsisting warrant. We will continue to work within the law while carrying out this assignment,” Gagdi said.

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In a separate but equally significant revelation, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, admitted that administrative mistakes were made in the processing of approvals linked to the purported Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC).

She acknowledged that proper due diligence should have been conducted before the body was recognised as an ad hoc office, describing the incident as an unusual occurrence within the history of her office.

Her admission is expected to raise fresh questions about how the controversial body secured official recognition and the processes that allowed it to gain legitimacy within government circles.

Meanwhile, Gagdi disclosed that the committee had secured approval from the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, to make its preliminary findings public next week.

He said the committee would first conclude hearings with the remaining stakeholders before unveiling its initial report, assuring Nigerians that the investigation would be transparent and thorough.

The lawmaker reiterated that the committee remains determined to uncover the full circumstances surrounding the PFIPC controversy and will eventually submit a comprehensive report to the House of Representatives for further legislative action.

With the police insisting on a court order before producing the detained DG and the Head of Service openly admitting procedural lapses, the PFIPC investigation is fast becoming one of the most closely watched probes linked to the 2026 budget, with more revelations expected in the coming days.

Written by

Sulaiman Umar

Sulaiman Umar is an editor and reporter with extensive experience in economic journalism, analyzing financial and agricultural developments in Northern Nigeria.

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