Fresh Drama As Adeyemi’s Family Accuses Reps Panel Of Blocking Legal Representation

The family of Adeniyi Adeyemi, the purported Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), has accused members of the House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the council of attempting to question him in police custody without the presence of his legal representatives.

The allegation was made on Thursday by Adeyemi’s brother, Peter Adeyemi, during an interview with Punch.

According to him, members of the committee visited the facility where Adeyemi is being detained with the intention of questioning him over the establishment and activities of the controversial council.

Peter claimed that his brother declined to respond to the lawmakers’ questions because none of his lawyers was present during the proposed interrogation.

He maintained that Adeyemi was not refusing to cooperate with the committee but was insisting that his constitutional right to legal representation be respected throughout the process.

The family further appealed to the House committee to ensure that any questioning is conducted in the presence of Adeyemi’s legal team and in accordance with due process.

Peter also argued that since other individuals had presented evidence and made allegations during the committee’s public hearings, Adeyemi should be given the same opportunity to publicly respond to the claims against him.

He insisted that his brother was prepared to defend himself but wanted to do so under the same transparent conditions afforded to other witnesses.

Meanwhile, the development follows an earlier objection raised by Adeyemi’s counsel, Ademola Oyedokun, over plans by the House committee to question his client at an undisclosed location while he remains in police custody.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Oyedokun said his client welcomed the House investigation into the alleged establishment and operations of the PFIPC but opposed any closed-door interrogation.

The lawyer argued that because the allegations against Adeyemi had been made publicly during the committee’s proceedings, fairness demanded that his client be allowed to present his defence in the same open forum rather than behind closed doors.