The father of Adeniyi Adeyemi, the man at the centre of the controversy surrounding the Peace and Fitness for Prosperity Initiative Commission, has defended his son, describing him as a well-behaved individual and expressing deep disappointment over allegations linking him to the purported operation of an unauthorised government agency.
Speaking amid the ongoing controversy, Adeyemi’s father said the claims against his son had caused immense emotional distress to the family, insisting that the allegations do not reflect the character of the man he raised.
“My son is well-behaved. These rumours are heartbreaking,” he said, urging the public to allow the ongoing investigation to run its course before reaching any conclusions.
Family rejects allegations
The remarks come as the Presidency continues to scrutinise the activities of the PFIPC following allegations that Adeniyi Adeyemi presented himself as the Director-General of the organisation.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the matter and submit its findings within 30 days.
Reacting to the development, Adeyemi’s father said his family remains hopeful that the investigation will establish the facts and clear his son’s name if he is found not to have committed any wrongdoing.
He maintained that his son had always demonstrated discipline and integrity throughout his life, adding that the current public scrutiny has been painful for relatives and close associates.
Appeal for due process
The elder Adeyemi appealed to Nigerians and the media to avoid passing judgment before the conclusion of the official investigation.
He stressed that every citizen is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty and urged the public to rely on verified information rather than speculation circulating on social media.
According to him, the family is prepared to cooperate with investigators and remains confident that due process will prevail.
The PFIPC has come under public scrutiny after the Presidency questioned its legal status and alleged that Adeniyi Adeyemi had represented himself as the organisation’s Director-General.
The controversy prompted President Tinubu to order an ICPC investigation into the activities of the commission, including its operations, legal status and any possible violations of Nigerian law.
The probe is expected to determine whether the organisation was lawfully established and whether any offences involving impersonation, fraud or abuse of public office were committed.
As of the time of filing this report, the ICPC had not released further details regarding the progress of its investigation.
Neither the Presidency nor the anti-corruption agency had responded to the father’s latest comments.
Legal analysts have urged restraint, noting that the investigation should be allowed to proceed without interference to ensure that any conclusions reached are based on evidence.
The outcome of the probe is expected to clarify the circumstances surrounding the PFIPC controversy and determine whether any criminal or administrative actions are warranted. Until then, the case continues to attract public attention as both the government and the family await the findings of investigators.
