Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The controversy surrounding the alleged Presidential Fiscal and Infrastructure Projects Council (PFIPC) took a dramatic turn on Monday, 6 July 2026, as police operatives stormed the Ogbomoso residence of Prince Adeyemi Adeniyi, the central figure in the ongoing forgery investigation linked to the purported council, and arrested his elderly father alongside a family friend. The development, which has deepened public scrutiny of the scandal, was confirmed by human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), who immediately questioned the legality of the operation, describing it as a case of substituted arrest with no basis in Nigerian law.
According to multiple reports, police officers arrived at the Adeniyi family residence at Plot 3, Adeniyi Dynasty, behind Technical College, Road Safety Area, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, on Monday morning. Eyewitnesses told journalists that the operatives came in four vehicles, allegedly harassed the family, and took away Adeniyi's father along with a visitor who had come to see the family. The operation reportedly left Adeniyi's elderly mother in a state of shock, with neighbours confirming that she had to be moved away from the scene for her safety.
Falana, who confirmed the arrest in a telephone conversation with journalists, expressed bewilderment at the police action. "Police have now stormed the house of the parents of Prince Adeyemi Adeniyi, Plot 3, Adeniyi Dynasty, behind Technical College, Road Safety Area, Ogbomoso. 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 was quoted as saying. The senior advocate's comments have reignited debate over the limits of police powers and the principle that criminal liability is personal and cannot be transferred to relatives.
A neighbour who spoke on condition of anonymity recounted the scene of the arrest. "They came with four vehicles, and they started harassing them and eventually took the father away. They didn't allow the neighbours to intervene before they took him away. At the moment, there is a man in blue clothes patrolling the area," the resident told PUNCH Online. Another neighbour confirmed that both the father and a visitor were taken into custody, while the suspect's mother was left in distress. As of the time of filing this report, the Nigeria Police Force had not issued an official statement on the alleged operation, and the claims could not be independently verified.
The PFIPC scandal has gripped the nation since it emerged that a body bearing that name received a budget allocation of over N1.3 billion in the 2026 Appropriation Act, despite the Presidency later disowning it as non-existent. Adeniyi, who had presented himself as the Director-General of the council, is currently facing criminal charges over alleged forgery, impersonation and related offences. The case has appeared before the courts on multiple occasions, with the prosecution pursuing charges while police investigations continue. In a related development, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) had earlier demanded the disclosure of documents relating to the approval of the N1.3 billion allocation, warning that it would commence legal action if the information was not released within seven days.
Falana has consistently maintained that the allegations surrounding the PFIPC should be resolved strictly through due process. He recently argued that the Presidency lacks the constitutional authority to clear anyone accused of wrongdoing, insisting that only the courts are empowered to determine criminal liability. The senior advocate has also cautioned against actions capable of creating the impression of intimidation or interference while the criminal proceedings remain before the court. "The young man has promised to show up in court, so why arrest his father?" Falana repeated, underscoring his concern that the police action could be seen as an attempt to pressure the suspect through his family.
The arrest of Adeniyi's father has drawn sharp criticism from civil society organisations and legal practitioners, who have described the move as a dangerous precedent that undermines the principle of individual criminal responsibility. Legal observers have pointed out that Nigerian law does not permit substituted arrests, where a person is arrested in place of another who cannot be found, except under very limited circumstances that do not apply here. The police have not yet explained the legal basis for the arrest, and it remains unclear whether the father will be charged or released.
As the PFIPC scandal continues to unfold, the arrest of an elderly man in connection with his son's alleged offences has added a new layer of complexity to an already convoluted saga. For the Adeniyi family, the ordeal has been compounded by the detention of their patriarch, leaving the mother traumatised and the community in shock. For the nation, the incident raises troubling questions about the conduct of law enforcement agencies and the protection of fundamental rights, even in the pursuit of high-profile criminal investigations. The case is expected to come up in court again, where the legality of the arrest may be tested, and the boundaries of police powers may be redefined.
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