A group of concerned legal practitioners has strongly condemned the recent petition by lawyer Deji Adeyanju, Esq., seeking a visa ban against Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and his family.

The petition, dated February 4, 2025, was reportedly sent to the embassies of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and the European Union, urging a travel ban on Adejobi over alleged human rights violations.

However, in a statement issued on Thursday, Dr. Ganiyu Yahaya, Esq., MCIArb (UK), criticized the move as unconstitutional, unethical, and a professional misconduct under the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners, 2023.

Dr. Yahaya argued that Adeyanju’s actions breached key legal provisions, noting that beyond professional misconduct, the statement also highlighted that Adeyanju’s actions violated fundamental rights enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended)

Yahaya criticized the attempt to bypass Nigerian judicial institutions, stating that it was astonishing and malicious for a lawyer to act as judge and jury by writing to foreign embassies to seek punitive action against a Nigerian officer without fair hearing.

The legal practitioner called on senior members of the legal profession to investigate the matter and possibly sanction Adeyanju to safeguard the integrity of the profession.

“It is astonishing that a lawyer is standing in the capacity of a judge and wrote to a foreign government embassy to seek punitive action against a Nigerian officer without fair hearing. This looks malicious and tarnishes the integrity of the legal profession,” they said.

“I, therefore, call on legal luminaries and our leaders in the legal profession to look into this matter for a possible caution as we all hold the civil responsibilities to preserve and safeguard the integrity of our dear noble profession jealously.”