In a letter addressed to the U.S. Embassy in Abuja and shared on his Facebook page, Nigerian lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju has called on the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and the European Union to impose a visa ban on Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Police Force. Adeyanju accused ACP Adejobi of systematically cracking down on freedom of speech in Nigeria, alleging that he has used his position to suppress dissent, facilitate unlawful arrests, and enable police brutality.
The petition highlights several incidents, including the reported arrest and detention of activist Olamide Thomas, TikToker Destiny Ekhourutomwem, and Nigerian citizen Uche Ihedioha. All three were allegedly detained for making social media posts critical of the government. Adeyanju argued that these actions by ACP Adejobi violate democratic principles and human rights standards.
In his Facebook post, Adeyanju wrote “We have petitioned the US, UK, Canada & EU to place a visa ban on Police PRO Muyiwa Adejobi and members of his family for his numerous crackdowns against freedom of speech in Nigeria. He added that further constitutional steps would be taken against Adejobi and other individuals seen as anti-democratic.
The petition urges Western governments to restrict ACP Adejobi and his family from traveling to their countries, following a precedent set by previous sanctions imposed on officials accused of human rights violations.
As of now, ACP Adejobi has not publicly responded to the allegations. The issue has sparked widespread debate on social media, with many Nigerians voicing their opinions on the matter.
See the full petition below:
