PFIPC Scandal: Why arrest his father? Atiku blasts police over Adeyemi raid

By Tolulope Oke

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the reported arrest of the father of Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, the man linked to the controversial Presidential Fiscal and Infrastructure Projects Council, PFIPC.

Atiku described the arrest as an abuse of power and a dangerous violation of the rule of law.

The reaction followed reports that operatives of the Nigeria Police Force arrested Adeyemi’s father during a raid on the family’s residence in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, while searching for his son over allegations surrounding the disputed PFIPC.

In a statement posted on Monday by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku’s camp said the arrest had no place in a democratic society.

Ibe argued that Nigerian law does not permit substituted arrest, insisting that security agencies cannot arrest a suspect’s family member simply because the person they are looking for is not available.

He questioned why the police went after Adeyemi’s father instead of pursuing the suspect through lawful procedures.

“What has the father of the man the Presidency claims to be a phantom Director-General got to do with the matter? It is an overreach and an abuse of power,” Ibe said.

He said if the police had evidence against Adeyemi, they should arrest and prosecute him according to the law, rather than targeting innocent members of his family.

Atiku’s aide warned that such actions could damage public confidence in law enforcement institutions and weaken democratic principles if allowed to stand.

He called for the immediate release of Adeyemi’s father and urged security agencies to respect the constitutional rights of citizens while carrying out investigations.

The reported arrest has also drawn criticism from senior lawyer and human rights advocate, Femi Falana, SAN, who also faulted the police action.

Falana said substituted arrest is unknown to Nigerian law and argued that criminal investigations must be directed at the person accused of wrongdoing, not the suspect’s relatives or associates.

He also urged the police to release the elderly man and conduct their investigation within the limits of the law.

The PFIPC controversy has generated public attention after the Presidency distanced itself from the organisation, saying no agency known as the Presidential Fiscal and Infrastructure Projects Council exists within the Federal Government.

The controversy began after Adeyemi allegedly presented himself as the Director-General of the council and appeared at public events with prominent political figures before questions were raised about the authenticity of the organisation and his claimed office.

The Federal Government later denied recognising the council, while security agencies opened investigations into allegations of forgery, impersonation and related offences linked to the purported agency.