Eric Patrick
A public interest law firm, Deji Adeyanju & Partners, has petitioned the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and the European Union to impose a visa ban on Assistant Commissioner of Police Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Police Force, over alleged crackdowns on freedom of speech.
The petition alleges that Adejobi has consistently demonstrated a disregard for human rights, using his position to suppress dissent and target individuals critical of the government.
Deji Adeyanju & Partners, confirmed the statement on Friday, to FIRSTNEWS on the phone.
The law firm contends that his public statements and actions have fostered an atmosphere of intimidation, stifling free expression in Nigeria.
It reads, “We urgently appeal to the United States of America to impose a visa restriction on Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the current Force Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Police Force.
“ACP Adejobi’s public statements and actions have demonstrated a blatant disregard for fundamental human rights, particularly freedom of speech. On multiple occasions, he has asserted that insulting police officers is a criminal offense in Nigeria, an assertion that legal experts and human rights advocates have widely condemned.
“For example, in a widely circulated tweet on March 29, 2023, ACP Adejobi stated that “hurling insults at Police Officers carrying out their legal duty is criminal and punishable by the criminal laws of Nigeria.”
The statement was made in response to a viral incident involving musician Habeeb Okikiola (Portable), in which Adejobi labeled his behavior as “unruly” and inciting violence against officers.
It reads, “ Most recently, ACP Adejobi took his abuse of power a step further by ordering the arrest and detention of a Nigerian citizen over a X comment. According to reports, Adejobi used his position to unlawfully detain Mr. Charles Uche Ihedioha simply for expressing an opinion online.
“This incident underscores his pattern of using state power to silence critics, violating both Nigerian laws and international human rights standards.
READ ALSO: Police Demand Retraction, Apology from Amnesty Over #EndBadGovernance Protest Report
“When Mr. Daniel’s father, Mr. Nathaniel Ihedioha went to the police station to see his son, ACP Adejobi ordered that the officers who granted him entry be locked up. This action further highlights Adejobi’s power-drunk tendencies and his blatant abuse of authority.”
Additionally, it states that when the detainee’s father, Nathaniel Ihedioha, visited the police station to see his son, “ACP Adejobi ordered that the officers who granted him entry be locked up.”
Beyond these individual cases, the petition alleges that Adejobi has consistently defended police brutality.
“In a recent report, he justified excessive force used by officers and dismissed calls for accountability, further proving his complicity in the continued abuse of Nigerian citizens,” the firm said.