Pix: Adeniyi Adeyemi, the suspected head of a fake federal agency.

The reported arrest of Pa Adeniyi Adeyemi, father of Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew, the man at the centre of the controversial fake federal agency scandal, has raised serious concerns about the protection of civil liberties and adherence to the rule of law in Nigeria. While the allegations against the younger Adeyemi are undoubtedly grave and deserving of a comprehensive investigation, the decision to reportedly detain his father has opened a troubling chapter in the nation’s criminal justice system.

At People’s Security Monitor, we believe that the fight against crime must never come at the expense of constitutional principles. Criminal responsibility is individual and personal. It cannot be inherited, transferred, or imposed by virtue of blood relationship. A father cannot be presumed guilty because his son is facing criminal allegations. To suggest otherwise would amount to a dangerous departure from the principles of justice recognized throughout the civilized world.

The fundamental question remains unanswered: What offence has Pa Adeyemi personally committed? If investigators possess credible evidence linking him to forgery, conspiracy, impersonation, fraud, or any aspect of the alleged fake agency operation, then such evidence should be presented before a competent court of law. However, if his arrest was based solely on his relationship with the principal suspect, then the action raises serious legal and moral concerns.

This development is particularly troubling because it appears to contradict the spirit and intent of Nigeria’s criminal justice reforms. The Administration of Criminal Justice Act was specifically enacted to prevent arbitrary arrests and ensure that investigations are conducted within clearly defined legal boundaries. The law recognizes that no individual should be deprived of liberty for the alleged actions of another person.

The fake agency scandal itself has exposed significant weaknesses within government institutions. Reports indicate that the controversial body allegedly secured recognition within official circles and reportedly appeared in budgetary allocations running into billions of naira. Such revelations raise serious questions about oversight mechanisms, verification procedures, and institutional accountability within the public sector.

The public deserves answers regarding how an entity whose legitimacy is now under scrutiny was allegedly able to gain access to government structures and official processes. These are the critical issues that should command the attention of investigators and policymakers. Unfortunately, the arrest of an elderly parent risks diverting attention from these far more important questions.

At a time when Nigeria faces growing security challenges, economic pressures, and increasing public demand for accountability, law enforcement agencies must be seen to operate strictly within the confines of the law. Actions that create the perception of guilt by association undermine public confidence and weaken trust in institutions that depend on public cooperation to function effectively.

History has demonstrated that societies begin to encounter serious challenges when relatives of suspects become targets of criminal investigations without clear evidence of wrongdoing. Justice ceases to be about facts and evidence and instead becomes vulnerable to perceptions of intimidation and collective punishment.

The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees the right to personal liberty and presumes every citizen innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction. These constitutional protections are not optional. They exist to safeguard citizens from arbitrary exercises of state power and to ensure that justice remains impartial.

The implications of this case extend beyond one family. If parents can be arrested because their children are under investigation, it creates a precedent that threatens the security and liberty of countless innocent Nigerians. The law must never permit a situation where family ties become grounds for detention.

People’s Security Monitor recognizes the importance of thoroughly investigating allegations surrounding the fake federal agency and ensuring that anyone found culpable faces the full weight of the law. However, accountability must be pursued through lawful means. The pursuit of justice cannot justify actions that themselves raise questions about legality and due process.

Equally important is the need for authorities to focus on the institutional failures that allegedly enabled the fake agency to operate. Nigerians deserve to know whether public officials ignored warning signs, whether established verification processes failed, and whether systemic weaknesses created opportunities for abuse.

As this matter unfolds, People’s Security Monitor urges all relevant authorities to remain guided by the principles of fairness, legality, and respect for fundamental human rights. The strength of a democracy is measured not by how it treats the popular and powerful, but by how faithfully it protects the rights of all citizens, including those connected to controversial cases.

Ultimately, justice must remain personal, evidence-based, and constitutionally grounded. If Pa Adeyemi has committed an offence, the law should take its course. If he has not, then his arrest represents a troubling development that deserves urgent scrutiny. Nigeria’s democracy cannot afford to embrace the principle of family liability. A father should never be made to answer for the alleged crimes of his son, and the rule of law must remain the nation’s guiding compass in the administration of justice.