PFIPC scandal deepens as police arrest Adeyemi’s father

The Nigeria Police Force has reportedly arrested the father of Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, the promoter of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), as investigations into the alleged N1.3 billion “ghost agency” scandal intensify.

Adeyemi, who claims to be the council’s Director-General, is currently facing trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges of conspiracy, forgery and impersonation.

The arrest reportedly took place on Monday at the family’s residence in Ogbomoso, Oyo State. Senior lawyer Femi Falana and eyewitnesses confirmed the development, alleging that police officers arrived in multiple vehicles and took Adeyemi’s father into custody.

Falana questioned the legality of the arrest, arguing that Nigerian law does not permit the arrest of a relative in place of a suspect, especially when Adeyemi is already standing trial.

The development has drawn criticism from legal practitioners, including the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, and other Senior Advocates of Nigeria, who said arresting a suspect’s relative to compel cooperation would be unlawful unless the relative is independently linked to the alleged offence.

They cited Section 7 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, which prohibits substitute arrests, while urging the police to disclose the legal basis for the arrest.

The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights also condemned the arrest, describing it as unconstitutional and calling for the immediate release of Adeyemi’s father unless investigators have credible evidence connecting him to the case.

The Force Headquarters has yet to issue an official statement, with police spokesperson ACP Anietie Iniedu saying he had not been briefed on the arrest.