The controversy surrounding the alleged N1.3 billion Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) scandal intensified on Monday after the Nigeria Police Force reportedly arrested the father of the council’s promoter, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, as investigations into the alleged “ghost agency” continue.
According to Punch, Adeyemi, who claims to be the Director-General of the PFIPC, is currently standing trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges of conspiracy, forgery and impersonation. The Federal Government has listed the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, and 10 others as prosecution witnesses.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, confirmed that police officers arrested Adeyemi’s father at the family’s residence in Ogbomoso, Oyo State. Eyewitnesses said officers arrived in multiple vehicles and also detained a family friend, leaving Adeyemi’s elderly mother in shock.
The reported arrest sparked criticism from leading legal practitioners and human rights advocates, who argued that Nigerian law prohibits the arrest of relatives solely to compel a suspect to surrender.
Nigerian Bar Association President, Afam Osigwe (SAN), said the arrest would only be lawful if Adeyemi’s father was independently being investigated as a suspect or person of interest. Other Senior Advocates of Nigeria, including Sam Erugo, Isiaka Olagunju, Wolemi Esan and Wahab Shittu, cited Section 7 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, which expressly prohibits substitute arrests.
They also pointed to constitutional protections guaranteeing personal liberty and stressing that criminal responsibility is personal and cannot be transferred to family members.
The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights also condemned the arrest, describing it as unconstitutional and calling on the Inspector-General of Police to order the immediate release of Adeyemi’s father unless credible evidence links him directly to any alleged offence.
The Nigeria Police Force has yet to officially explain the basis for the arrest. Force Headquarters spokesman Anietie Iniedu said he had not been briefed, while the Oyo State Police Command referred enquiries to the Force Criminal Investigation Department in Abuja.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation denied claims that public funds were released to the PFIPC. Spokesman Bawa Mokwa said the council never operated a functional government account because it failed to complete the account opening process by providing authorised signatories.
He also stated that although the council appeared in the 2026 Appropriation Act, implementation of the budget only began on July 1, after the controversy had already emerged, and no money was paid to the body.
The Senate also defended its role in the controversy. Lawmakers insisted the National Assembly neither created the PFIPC nor originated its budget allocation, arguing that budget proposals are prepared and vetted by the Executive before being submitted to lawmakers.
The latest developments have increased pressure on the Presidency over the alleged agency, which it had previously disowned despite its inclusion in the 2026 federal budget. The Senate is expected to address the controversy when plenary resumes.
