The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has expressed concern over the reported arrest and detention of the father of Mr. Adeniyi Adeyemi in connection with allegations involving the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), an entity the Presidency has reportedly described as non-existent despite claims that it received over ₦1.3 billion in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
In a statement, SERAP argued that under the 1999 Constitution and international human rights standards, criminal responsibility is personal and no individual should be arrested or detained for an offence allegedly committed by another person.
The organisation cited Sections 35 and 36(8) of the Constitution, which guarantee the right to personal liberty and prohibit holding individuals liable for acts they did not commit.
The rights group also maintained that the reported arrest, if confirmed, would be inconsistent with Nigeria’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, both of which prohibit arbitrary arrest and detention.
SERAP called on the authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Adeyemi’s father unless there is admissible evidence linking him personally to a recognised criminal offence, stressing that the rule of law does not permit guilt by association.
The organisation also urged the National Assembly to invoke its constitutional oversight powers to investigate how the allegedly fictitious PFIPC was included in the 2026 Appropriation Act and allocated more than ₦1.3 billion in public funds. It said the probe should determine whether any public officials abused their offices or facilitated any illegality.
SERAP further called on the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conduct independent investigations into the alleged budget allocation and prosecute anyone found culpable in accordance with the law.
According to the organisation, ensuring accountability requires investigating not only individuals outside the government but also any public officials who may have enabled the alleged misuse of public institutions and public funds.
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