Crime
PFIPC Saga Deepens as Police Arrest Adeyemi’s Father
The Nigeria Police have arrested the father of Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-acclaimed Director-General of the disowned Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), during a raid on the family’s residence in Ogbomoso.
According to reports, police officers stormed the residence on Monday morning and detained Adeyemi’s father along with a family friend who was visiting at the time.
The arrest is linked to the ongoing controversy surrounding the PFIPC. The Presidency has maintained that no such council exists under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Meanwhile, Adeniyi Adeyemi is facing charges related to alleged forgery, impersonation and other connected offences.
Falana: No Legal Basis for “Substituted Arrest”
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) confirmed the arrest and criticised the police action, describing it as a case of “substituted arrest” without any legal foundation.
“The father has been arrested. There is no legal basis for substituted arrests. The young man has promised to show up in court, so why arrest his father?” Falana said.
Legal experts noted that the 1999 Constitution makes it clear that arrest and detention are personal in nature.
Section 35 guarantees every citizen’s right to personal liberty and permits arrest only where an individual is reasonably suspected of committing an offence. Section 42 also prohibits punishment by association.
The Supreme Court has consistently ruled against “guilt by association,” affirming that criminal liability is personal and cannot be transferred to family members. Consequently, arresting a parent, spouse or sibling solely to compel a suspect to surrender is considered unconstitutional unless there is evidence that the relative participated in or aided the alleged offence.
By that standard, legal experts argue that detaining Adeyemi’s father simply because his son is standing trial amounts to substituted arrest, a practice Nigerian courts have repeatedly declared illegal while awarding damages against security agencies.
Background to the Case
Adeyemi came under public scrutiny after the PFIPC appeared in the 2026 Appropriation Act with a budgetary allocation of about N1.3 billion, despite the Presidency’s insistence that the council was never legally established.
The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation has also stated that the council did not complete the requirements needed to operate a Central Bank of Nigeria account and has not received any government funds.
The controversy first surfaced in October 2025 when the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) raised concerns that the purported council was performing functions similar to those of the commission. Following the development, the Office of the Chief of Staff petitioned security agencies over alleged forged presidential documents.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigeria Police had not issued an official statement explaining the arrest of Adeyemi’s father and the family friend. Legal observers say they will continue monitoring the matter closely, with the possibility of a fundamental rights enforcement suit should the detention continue without formal charges.
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