Controversy surrounding the alleged ₦1.3 billion Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) scandal has intensified with the Nigeria Police Force reportedly arresting the father of the council’s promoter, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.
Fake Agency scandal: Police Monday reportedly arrested Adeyemi’s Father
Adeyemi, who claims to be the Director-General of the PFIPC, is currently standing trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges bordering on conspiracy, forgery and impersonation. The Federal Government has listed Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and 10 others as prosecution witnesses.
According to eyewitnesses and senior lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), police officers stormed the Adeyemi family residence in Ogbomoso on Monday morning and arrested Adeyemi’s father, along with a family friend who was visiting.
Neighbours said the officers arrived in four vehicles and prevented residents from intervening before taking the men away. Adeyemi’s elderly mother was reportedly left in shock.
The reported arrest has sparked widespread criticism from legal experts and human rights advocates, who argued that Nigerian law does not permit the arrest of relatives simply because a family member is under investigation.
President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), said arresting a suspect’s relative to compel cooperation would be unlawful unless the individual is independently suspected of committing an offence.
Several Senior Advocates of Nigeria, including Prof. Sam Erugo, Isiaka Olagunju, Wolemi Esan and Dr. Wahab Shittu, also stressed that criminal responsibility is personal and cannot be transferred to family members.
They cited Section 7 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, which expressly prohibits arresting one person in place of another, as well as constitutional provisions protecting personal liberty and due process.
Shittu explained that while the police have powers of arrest, those powers are limited by law and require reasonable suspicion against the person being arrested. He added that if Adeyemi’s father was detained solely because of his relationship with his son, the action would amount to an unlawful substitute arrest.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force has not officially explained the reason for the arrest.
Force Headquarters public relations officer, Anietie Iniedu, said he had not been briefed on the operation and requested details of the unit involved. Efforts to obtain further clarification from the police were unsuccessful.
The Oyo State Police Command also declined to comment, stating that the investigation is being handled by the Force Criminal Investigation Department in Abuja.
Accountant-General denies release of funds
The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation maintained that no public funds were released to the controversial council.
Director of Press and Public Relations, Bawa Mokwa, said although an application was initiated to open a government account for the PFIPC, it never became operational because the required signatories were not provided.
He also stated that implementation of the 2026 budget only began on July 1, after the controversy had already emerged, adding that no money could have been paid to an agency without a functioning government account.
The Senate also defended itself against criticism over the ₦1.3 billion allocation reportedly included for the PFIPC in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
Lawmakers argued that the legislature neither created the agency nor originated its budget, explaining that ministries, departments and agencies submit proposals through the Executive before appropriation bills are transmitted to the National Assembly.
Some senators maintained that lawmakers examine budget estimates rather than determine the legal status of agencies already presented by the Executive, insisting that Senate President Godswill Akpabio should not be blamed for the controversy.
The Senate is expected to address the matter when plenary resumes.
The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) condemned the arrest and called on the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to order the immediate release of Adeyemi’s father unless there is credible evidence linking him personally to any criminal offence.
The organisation described the detention as unconstitutional and a violation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights conventions.
The group warned against using family members as leverage in criminal investigations, insisting that criminal liability is individual and that law enforcement agencies must operate strictly within the rule of law.
