By Opeyemi Adelakun
The father of the self-styled Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Pa Adetunji Adeniyi, has alleged that security operatives raided his residence three times within two days in a desperate search for his son, claiming the operation left his property damaged and his family traumatised.
The allegations came as the Social Democratic Party (SDP) called on the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, to step aside over the controversy, while the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, challenged the embattled PFIPC promoter, Adeniyi Adeyemi, to stop evading investigators and defend his allegations.
Speaking in an interview monitored by journalists, Pa Adeniyi said armed security personnel stormed his residence in Ogbomoso, Osun State, on three separate occasions while searching for his son.
According to him, the first team of operatives scaled the fence into his compound, destroyed part of the security wire protecting the premises and searched every corner of the house after identifying themselves as government security officials.
“They jumped the fence into my compound and destroyed the security wire before entering. They knocked on my door, identified themselves as government security officials, and searched the entire house, including every cupboard,” he said.
He alleged that the operatives returned later the same afternoon, confiscated the family’s mobile phones and came back again around 11:30 p.m. the following day.
The elderly man said the officers repeatedly questioned him about his son’s whereabouts and eventually arrested him after he told them he did not know where Adeyemi lived in Abuja.
“They only told me the government was looking for my son. I know he works in Abuja, but I have never visited his office or residence there. I don’t know what offence he committed,” he said.
Pa Adeniyi maintained that his son had never been associated with criminal behaviour and expressed disbelief over the allegations levelled against him.
“My son has never been troublesome since childhood. Everything they are saying he did is difficult for me to believe,” he added.
The police operation followed President Bola Tinubu’s directive to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the activities of the PFIPC, which the Presidency has described as a non-existent government agency.
Adeyemi had earlier declared his readiness to cooperate with investigators and submit documents relating to the alleged N1.3 billion allocation made to the organisation in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
Reacting to the controversy, SDP National Chairman, Prof. Sadiq Gombe, urged Gbajabiamila to temporarily relinquish his position to allow what he described as an independent and transparent investigation.
According to him, no public official facing allegations of such magnitude should continue occupying a sensitive office while investigations are ongoing.
Gombe argued that the Chief of Staff’s continued leadership of the presidential committee on state policing could undermine public confidence in the government’s commitment to accountability and transparency.
“If decorum prevails, there are things that must be done. There is no way a public officer will face allegations of this magnitude and still remain in office. The Chief of Staff should step aside to allow an independent investigation,” he said.
Meanwhile, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike dismissed claims that Adeyemi was being persecuted, insisting that anyone making allegations against public officials must be prepared to substantiate them before security agencies.
“If the allegations are true, let him come out and provide evidence instead of hiding,” Wike said.
The minister maintained that allegations alone should not become grounds for removing public officials from office, adding that all official communications and records could be subjected to proper investigation.
Wike also disclosed that he had previously resisted an alleged attempt to blackmail his family through fabricated claims involving his son, insisting that public office holders must resist intimidation and allow due process to take its course.
Also reacting, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) called for the establishment of an independent panel of inquiry to investigate the PFIPC controversy.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, argued that allowing a government agency to investigate allegations involving the Presidency could undermine public confidence in the outcome.
He maintained that only an independent investigative panel would assure Nigerians of a transparent, impartial and credible probe into the unfolding scandal.
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