The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has condemned the reported arrest of the father of Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi by officers of the Nigeria Police Force, describing the action as an alleged case of substituted arrest that is unlawful, unconstitutional, and contrary to the rule of law.
In a statement issued on July 6, 2026, Executive Director of RULAAC, Okechukwu Nwanguma, said credible media reports indicated that police officers stormed the Adeyemi family residence in Ogbomoso and arrested Prince Adeyemi’s father, along with a family friend, despite reports that the suspect had undertaken to present himself before the appropriate authorities.
Nwanguma said the operation reportedly left the suspect’s elderly mother traumatised.
According to RULAAC, if the reports are accurate, the arrests constitute a clear violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), and established principles of justice.
The organisation stressed that criminal responsibility is personal and that no individual should be arrested, detained, intimidated, or punished for the alleged conduct of another person, regardless of family relationship.
RULAAC also aligned itself with the position of human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), who has consistently maintained that there is no legal basis for substituted arrests.
“The Nigeria Police Force has both a constitutional and statutory obligation to investigate crime within the bounds of the law. Arresting innocent relatives to compel the appearance of a suspect amounts to abuse of police powers and violates the fundamental right to personal liberty guaranteed under Section 35 of the Constitution,” the statement said.
The advocacy group lamented that despite repeated judicial pronouncements, the enactment of the ACJA, the Police Act 2020, and years of human rights advocacy and police reform efforts, substituted arrests continue to occur.
According to RULAAC, the practice undermines public confidence in law enforcement, weakens the credibility of criminal investigations, and reinforces perceptions of impunity within the policing system.
The organisation called on the Inspector-General of Police to immediately order the release of Prince Adeyemi’s father and any other person allegedly arrested unlawfully in connection with the matter, unless there are independent lawful grounds for their continued detention.
It also urged the police chief to institute an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding the arrests, identify and sanction any officers found to have authorised or carried out an unlawful substituted arrest, and issue clear operational directives to all police commands reiterating that substituted arrest is illegal and will attract disciplinary and legal consequences.
RULAAC further urged the Nigeria Police Force to demonstrate its commitment to professionalism, accountability, and respect for human rights through its operational conduct.
“The legitimacy of policing depends not only on bringing suspects to justice but also on respecting the rights and dignity of every citizen,” the statement added.
Nwanguma said RULAAC would continue to monitor developments in the matter and sustain its advocacy against arbitrary arrests, abuse of police powers, and other forms of human rights violations.
“No Nigerian should lose their liberty simply because they are related to a person wanted by law enforcement,” he said. #securitynewsalert.com
