Fake Agency Scandal Deepens as Police Arrest Adeyemi’s Father
BY FRONTLINE REPORTERS
The controversy surrounding the alleged N1.3 billion Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) scandal took a fresh twist on Monday following the reported arrest of the father of the council’s embattled promoter, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force.
Adeyemi, who claims to be the Director-General of the PFIPC, is currently standing trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges bordering on conspiracy, forgery and impersonation. The Federal Government has listed the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, among its prosecution witnesses.
According to information obtained by Frontline Reporters, Adeyemi’s father was arrested at the family’s residence in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, alongside a family friend who had visited the home. The development reportedly left Adeyemi’s elderly mother in shock.
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) condemned the arrest, describing it as unlawful if it was intended to compel Adeyemi to appear before investigators.
“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.
Eyewitnesses said police officers arrived at the residence in several vehicles before taking the elderly man away, while neighbours expressed concern over the manner of the operation.
Lawyers Condemn ‘Arrest by Proxy’
The reported arrest has sparked widespread condemnation from senior lawyers and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), who insisted that Nigerian law does not permit the arrest of relatives solely to pressure a suspect.
NBA President Afam Osigwe (SAN) cautioned against premature conclusions but stressed that arresting a relative in place of a suspect would be unlawful unless the individual was independently linked to the alleged offence. Other Senior Advocates of Nigeria, including Prof. Sam Erugo, Isiaka Olagunju, Wolemi Esan and Dr. Wahab Shittu, echoed the same position, citing Section 7 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), which expressly prohibits substitute arrests.
They maintained that criminal responsibility is personal and that any arrest must be based on reasonable suspicion against the individual concerned, not family relationship.
Police Yet to Explain Arrest
The Nigeria Police Force has yet to officially explain the circumstances surrounding the arrest.
Force Headquarters spokesman, Anietie Iniedu, said he had not been briefed on the operation and requested details of the police unit responsible before commenting.
Similarly, Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, said the matter was being handled by the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in Abuja and advised inquiries to be directed to the Force Headquarters.
Accountant-General: No Funds Released to PFIPC
Meanwhile, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation has denied reports that 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, the process was never completed because the required signatories were not provided.
According to him, without an operational account, no funds could have been disbursed to the council despite its appearance in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
“If he doesn’t have an operational account, where would they put the money? There wasn’t any money given,” Mokwa stated.
Senate Distances Itself
The Senate also moved to distance itself from the controversy surrounding the N1.3 billion budget allocation to the PFIPC.
Lawmakers maintained that the National Assembly neither created the agency nor initiated its budget proposal, insisting that appropriation requests originate from the Executive before being transmitted to the legislature.
Some senators argued that the responsibility for establishing agencies and verifying their legitimacy lies with the Executive, while the National Assembly considers budget proposals already submitted for appropriation.
Rights Group Demands Immediate Release
The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) also condemned the reported arrest, describing it as unconstitutional and a violation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
The organisation urged the Inspector-General of Police to order the immediate release of Adeyemi’s father unless there is credible evidence linking him personally to any criminal offence.
According to the group, law enforcement agencies must operate within the law and avoid using relatives of suspects as instruments of pressure or intimidation.
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