The father of Adeniyi Adeyemi, who is facing allegations of operating a fictitious government agency, has defended his son, describing him as a peaceful and responsible person while expressing anguish over the controversy surrounding the case.
Speaking during an interview with BBC Yoruba, Adetunji Adeniyi said security operatives stormed his residence in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, in search of his son, insisting the allegations against him had left the family devastated.
According to the elderly man, the operatives scaled the fence into his compound before forcing their way into the house to conduct a thorough search.
He said although the officers searched every part of the premises, they could not find his son and later returned for another search before leaving.
Adetunji claimed the operatives did not disclose the specific offence his son allegedly committed, saying they only informed him that the government was looking for him.
He explained that when questioned about his son's workplace, he told the officers that Adeyemi had always informed the family he worked for the Federal Government in Abuja, adding that he had never visited his office.
The father recalled that his son had visited home shortly before returning to Abuja, noting that security operatives later questioned him over his whereabouts and eventually took him away before releasing him.
He maintained that his son was not known to be troublesome and said the allegations had taken a toll on his health.
Meanwhile, human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, who is representing Adeyemi, faulted the treatment of the suspect's father, arguing that taking the elderly man to a police station was inconsistent with constitutional provisions and relevant laws.
Falana, however, disclosed that police authorities later informed him the man was not formally arrested but was invited to assist investigators and released after making a statement. He insisted the statement could have been obtained at his residence without taking him into custody.
Adeyemi is standing trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged forgery, impersonation and operating the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, an organisation the Presidency has described as non-existent.
The controversy deepened after Adeyemi reportedly claimed during a television interview that he paid N400 million to secure his appointment as director-general, an allegation strongly denied by the Presidency.
Following the development, President Bola Tinubu directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to investigate the activities of the alleged council and submit its findings within 30 days.
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