A human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju, has accused the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, of allegedly abusing his office by stifling free speech and unlawfully detaining individuals critical of the police.
Adeyanju claimed that Adejobi had transformed his role from public relations to a tool for intimidation.
He expressed his concerns in a video that went viral on Wednesday.
“Nigerians must be mindful of who Muyiwa Adejobi is. He thinks the Police PRO’s work is about surfing the internet and arresting people who criticise the police,” Adeyanju said. “He believes the role is about jailing individuals, especially those who call for accountability within the police force.”
The activist further alleged that Adejobi ordered the detention of a client from his legal firm for posting on social media about the abduction of the wife of a former Assistant Inspector General of Police, Hakeem Odumosu.
The incident reportedly occurred on January 16 at her residence in the Arepo area of Ogun State.
“Our client has been in custody for 10 days on Adejobi’s instruction. His parents went to see and plead with Adejobi, but they were subjected to humiliation,” Adeyanju claimed. “It was also alleged that three officers who allowed the parents access to their detained son were locked up on Adejobi’s orders.”
Expressing outrage, Adeyanju questioned the implications of Adejobi’s actions for democracy.
“Who does he think he is? Is this how we promote accountability in government? Is this what policing should be about? He is turning the Force PRO office into a chaotic space, as though it were a street fight in Oshodi where people resolve issues with fists,” he said.
Adeyanju also vowed to take legal action against Adejobi, describing it as a step towards protecting citizens’ rights.
“We are taking decisive legal and constitutional steps against him to serve as a deterrent to others in the police force who victimise and witch-hunt citizens. Muyiwa Adejobi is guilty of suppressing citizens’ rights and freedom of speech in Nigeria,” he stated.
In addition, the activist issued a stern warning to the Nigerian Police Cybercrime Centre, urging it not to exceed its legal mandate.
“This is also to serve a serious note of warning to the cybercrime centre of the Nigerian police that the work of the cyber centre is not to be arresting people who are opposing or criticising the government or people who are criticising the police authority or who are criticising and calling for accountability. Their work is to go after internet fraud and cybercriminals,” he emphasised.
Adeyanju called on Nigerians to resist actions that shrink civic space and threaten democracy.
“People like Muyiwa must be stopped by citizens, or else they will continue to diminish free speech and put our democracy at risk,” he warned.
Efforts to reach Adejobi for his reaction were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report. Calls to his phone went unanswered, and he had yet to respond to a text message on the matter.
