The reported arrest of the father of Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi has triggered widespread reactions from legal experts, politicians, and civil society groups, with many questioning whether the action complies with Nigerian law.

According to reports, officers of the Nigeria Police Force arrested Adeyemi’s father during a raid on the family residence in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, amid an ongoing investigation into the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) scandal. Adeyemi is facing allegations including forgery, impersonation, and other related offences before the Federal High Court. He has denied wrongdoing, and the case remains before the court.

The arrest has drawn criticism from prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), who described it as an unlawful “substituted arrest.” Falana argued that Nigerian law does not permit the arrest of a relative simply because a suspect is being investigated, unless there is independent evidence linking that relative to the alleged offence.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also condemned the development, describing it as an abuse of power and a violation of the rule of law. Human rights organisations have similarly called on the police to either charge Adeyemi’s father with a specific offence if credible evidence exists or release him immediately.

Legal experts note that while Nigerian law prohibits the arrest of one person in place of another, law enforcement agencies may lawfully arrest any individual if there is reasonable suspicion that the person personally committed an offence or is directly connected to the investigation. As of now, the Nigeria Police Force has not publicly explained the legal basis for the reported arrest. Visit www.jocomms.com for more news.