Police have arrested the father of the self-acclaimed Director-General of the controversial Presidential Fiscal and Infrastructure Projects Council, PFIPC, Adeyemi Adeniyi, in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, amid the ongoing investigation into the alleged forgery and impersonation scandal involving the purported government agency.
The arrest was disclosed on Monday by human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), who condemned the action of the police, describing it as unlawful and a case of “substituted arrest.”
Falana, in a telephone interview with journalists, said armed police officers stormed the residence of Adeniyi’s parents at Plot 3, Adeniyi Dynasty, behind the Technical College, Road Safety Area, Ogbomoso, and took away the suspect’s father along with a family friend who was visiting.
According to the senior lawyer, the arrest lacks any legal justification, especially as Adeyemi had already indicated his willingness to appear before the court to answer the charges against him.
“The police have stormed the house of the parents of Prince Adeyemi Adeniyi. His 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 queried.
Residents of the area corroborated the development, saying the operation involved several police vehicles and caused panic within the neighbourhood.
One resident, who requested anonymity, said the operatives arrived in four vehicles before allegedly harassing members of the household and taking Adeyemi’s father away.
“They came with four vehicles. They started harassing the family before taking the father away. Neighbours were prevented from intervening, and one officer remained in the area afterwards,” the resident said.
Another resident disclosed that a family friend who had visited the house was also arrested during the operation, while Adeyemi’s mother was left traumatised.
“Baba was taken away alongside a visitor. The mother was left behind in shock, and neighbours had to move her away from the house,” the resident said.
The latest development comes as the controversy surrounding the purported Presidential Fiscal and Infrastructure Projects Council continues to deepen.
The Presidency had earlier distanced itself from the council, describing it as a fictitious organisation with no legal recognition or approval from the Federal Government.
Adeyemi is currently standing trial before a Federal High Court in Abuja on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged forgery, impersonation and related offences over claims that he falsely presented himself as the Director-General of the council.
Falana has consistently maintained that the matter should be resolved strictly through the judicial process, insisting that criminal liability can only be determined by a competent court and warning against actions capable of violating the constitutional rights of innocent family members.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigeria Police Force had yet to issue an official statement explaining the circumstances surrounding the arrest of Adeyemi’s father or the family friend.
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