The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project(SERAP) has condemned the reported arrest and detention of the father of Mr. Adeniyi Adeyemi over allegations relating to the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC)/Presidential Economic Advisory Council.
“We are seriously concerned about reported arrest and detention of the father of Mr. Adeniyi Adeyemi over allegations relating to PFIPC)/ PEAC, an entity which the Presidency has publicly described as ‘fictitious’ despite reports that it received an allocation of over ₦1.3 billion in the 2026 Appropriation Act”.
In a statement issued on Tiesday, SERAP said If the reports are accurate, the authorities should immediately and unconditionally release Mr. Adeyemi’s father unless there was relevant admissible evidence that he personally committed a recognisable criminal offence.
It pointed out that under the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) and international standards, criminal responsibility is personal.
“The rule of law demands individual criminal responsibility—not guilt by association.
“No one should be arrested, detained or punished for an offence allegedly committed by another person. Section 36[8] of the Nigerian Constitution guarantees that a person can only be held liable for his or her own conduct, while Section 35 protects the right to personal liberty.
“The reported arrest would also be inconsistent with Nigeria’s obligations under Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 6 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which prohibit arbitrary arrest and detention. The United Nations Human Rights Committee has made clear that deprivation of liberty must never be arbitrary or used as a means of intimidation or coercion”, it stated.
SERAP called on the National Assembly to investigate how a purportedly non-existent agency allegedly found its way into the 2026 Appropriation Act and was allocated public funds.
“The National Assembly should immediately exercise its constitutional powers under sections 88 and 89 of the Nigerian Constitution to investigate how a purportedly non-existent agency allegedly found its way into the 2026 Appropriation Act and was allocated public funds.
“The investigation should establish whether any public officials abused their offices, failed in their duties, or facilitated any illegality”.
It also urged security agencies to conduct impartial investigations into the circumstances surrounding the alleged budgetary allocation and identify and prosecute anyone suspected to be responsible, in accordance with the law.
“The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission should also conduct thorough, independent and impartial investigations into the circumstances surrounding the alleged budgetary allocation and identify and prosecute anyone suspected to be responsible, in accordance with the law.
“Accountability requires uncovering not only the actions of individuals outside government but also any official complicity that may have enabled the alleged misuse of public institutions and public funds”.
