Adeyanju Vows Legal Action Against Police Spokesman Adejobi For Suppressing Nigerians’ Rights, Free Speech
He condemned Adejobi’s role in the arbitrary arrest of Nigerians, describing it as harmful to democratic principles and values in the country.
Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju has vowed to take legal action against Nigeria Police Force Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Muyiwa Adejobi over the unlawful arrest and detention of outspoken citizens using social media to demand accountability from the police.
Adeyanju made this statement on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja while speaking to journalists after the adjournment of a defamation lawsuit filed by Senator Ned Nwoko against former African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore.
He condemned Adejobi’s role in the arbitrary arrest of Nigerians, describing it as harmful to democratic principles and values in the country.
He accused Adejobi of victimising individuals who criticise Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun and vowed to take decisive legal and constitutional action against the officer to serve as a deterrent to others.
“The Nigerian people must be mindful of Muyiwa Adejobi, the Force PRO at the Force Headquarters. This guy thinks that police PRO work is about jailing people and arresting people who criticise the police institution or Inspector General of Police. Was this how Frank Mba did the PRO work?” Deji asked.
He recounted the humiliation inflicted by Adejobi on the parents of one of his clients, who was arrested and detained for ten days for posting on social media about the abduction of the wife of a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police.
He said, “One of our clients who was arrested on the instruction of Muyiwa Adejobi for making a posting about the abduction of retired AIG’s wife. They arrested him and he has spent 10 days in custody. The parents went to see Muyiwa to beg him. The parents came to our office and briefed us. You need to see the level of ridicule he meted out to them.
“It has also been alleged that he locked up three of the officers who allowed the parents to see him. Who the hell does this guy think he is? A bloody force PRO. Is this how we can promote accountability in government? Is this the essence of policing? Is this how to do PRO work?”
“So we are taking decisive action against people like that. They are anti-democratic elements in the country. Muyiwa Adejobi is guilty of suppressing citizens’ rights and freedom of speech in the country and we are going to take appropriate legal and constitutional action against him to serve as a deterrent to other people like him in the police force who continue to victimise people,” Deji added.
Adeyanju also issued a warning to the National Cybercrime Centre of the Nigerian police, emphasising that its role is not to arrest innocent Nigerians for criticising the government, the police, or demanding accountability within the force.
“Their work is to go after Internet fraud and cyber criminals but not to go after those criticising Inspector General of Police or Commissioner of Police,” the lawyer added.
