PCRC addresses petition against Adejobi, says Adeyanju lacks ‘style, tempo’

The Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) has dismissed allegations made by human rights activist and lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, against Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force, describing them as politically motivated and baseless.

Adeyanju, in a video released on February 5 and a petition submitted to several international bodies, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the European Union, accused Adejobi of suppressing free speech and using his position to intimidate critics of the government.

Adeyanju, in the petition, called for a visa ban on Adejobi, alleging that he had been involved in actions that infringed upon the rights of individuals to express their views freely.

“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. He believes the role is about jailing individuals, especially those who call for accountability within the police force,” Adeyanju stated.

PCRC, in its response on Sunday, called Adeyanju “a grade C human rights activist” and accused him of launching a deliberate, politically motivated campaign to damage Adejobi’s reputation and, by extension, the Nigeria Police Force, with no justifiable but politically motivated and selfish reasons.

PCRC also accused Adeyanju of acting on “a paid mission” to tarnish the image of law enforcement in Nigeria due to his alliance with former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore.

“We are worried that Deji and his sponsors, at this age and time, do not know that rights to free speech have limitations not only in Nigeria but globally. If Deji has forgotten, we are sure Nigerians are yet to forget the devastating effects of various free but demonic and violence-inspired speeches against the government, individuals, and even religious groups, which have claimed the lives of many innocent Nigerians and led to avoidable devastating losses,” PCRC stated.

PCRC also said Adeyanju failed to inform the global community in his petition how Adejobi has recommended disciplinary procedures for erring police personnel, with many now demoted in rank, others dismissed, and some charged to court for capital offences.

“One now wonders how the same man who on several occasions rose up and still stands against unprofessional conduct from police personnel is now the one using his position to intimidate Nigerians in Deji Adeyanju’s dream. Since there’s a clear difference between law-abiding citizens and the lawless ones, we have a feeling that those who usually patronise Deji are the lawless ones who have little or zero regard for our laws, especially the ones related to social media usage,” it added.

“If our laws require a high level of decency and decorum in our usage of social media, especially when it comes to criticising individuals, corporate bodies, or the government to guard against actions or statements that are capable of causing issues or severe consequences that may lead to a breach of public peace, it is our responsibility to ensure that expressions are made decently without abusive and defamatory statements.

“This is not too much of a price for us to pay considering the dangers involved when everybody, including the sane and insane, is left on our social media spaces without regulations. The police are law enforcement agents and, as such, should not be subjected to personal attacks for enforcing the laws made by the people through their representatives. We have seen many people, especially traffic-seeking social media users and bloggers, go overboard with unsubstantiated and fake news alerts without thinking of the huge negative effects on the larger society as long as they attract huge traffic.”

PCRC also noted that Adeyanju’s claims are not based on facts but on a “personal vendetta” against Adejobi, describing the latter’s behaviour as “social media gangsterism” under the guise of human rights activism.

PCRC, however, urged Adeyanju to take some lessons from “reputable human rights” organisations like CDHR, HRGDS, CLO, and other groups who show up for law-abiding citizens and not the lawless ones who have turned Adeyanju’s law firm into their Holy Land.

PCRCadded, “A reggae music track without vocal style and tempo cannot make the list of Alaba music awards, not to talk of the Grammys. Mr. Adeyanju must do better next time with the right instrumentation, harmony, and rhythm.”