Impose Visa Ban On Police PRO Adejobi, Adeyanju Writes U.S, UK, EU, Canada

Abuja-based lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, has urged the US, UK, European Union (EU) and Canada to place a visa ban on police PRO, Muyiwa Adejobi, and his family members for allegedly stifling freedom of speech in Nigeria.

In four separate letters dated February 4, 2025, and sighted by THE WHISTLER, Adeyanju appealed to the countries and foreign organisations to impose a visa restriction on Adejobi over his “disregard for human rights”

Adeyanju, citing several instances, accused the police PRO of directly attacking freedom of speech and expression using his office as the spokesperson of the police force.

The letters read in part, “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.” This 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.

“Furthermore, he reiterated this stance in a Facebook post, declaring that attacking or even verbally insulting police officers is an act of disrespect to Nigeria itself.

“Additionally, in December 2024, activist and nurse Olamide Thomas was arrested and detained at the instance of Mr Muyiwa Adejobi after she posted a video on social media in which she expressed her grievances against President Bola Tinubu, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, and ACP Adejobi himself. Her arrest and subsequent detention have been viewed as a direct attack on freedom of expression and an example of the misuse of power to suppress dissent.”

Impose Visa Ban On Police PRO Adejobi, Adeyanju Writes U.S, UK, EU, Canada is first published on The Whistler Newspaper