The Nigeria Police Force has removed its long-serving spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, from his position at Force Headquarters in Abuja, ending a turbulent era marked by controversies and public criticism.
Adejobi, who became the face of the Police Force over the years, has been redeployed to the Delta State Command, with his deputy expected to step into his former role.
Throughout his tenure, Adejobi drew heavy fire from both inside and outside the Force. Critics accused him of using his office to shield the institution from accountability, suppress dissent on social media, and serve as a blunt instrument of the regime.
Within the Force, some senior officers described him as entangled in personal scandals, while his controversial promotion to Assistant Commissioner of Police only deepened public outrage and questions about his integrity.
His time as spokesman also attracted international scrutiny. Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju once petitioned the U.S. Embassy to revoke his visa, citing his role in repressing dissent.
Several individuals accused him of abuse of office, including a nurse, Olamide Thomas, who claimed he retaliated after she rejected his advances, and UK-based Dorcas Adeyinka, who alleged he framed her for murder before she sued him for violating her rights.
Even after pulling back from directly issuing police statements, Adejobi was accused of operating through proxy groups such as Ndigbo Young Professionals, South West Youth Alliance, and others managed by his associates.
One scandal that particularly tainted his reputation involved allegations that he ordered a cameraman to steal activist Omoyele Sowore’s sunglasses during a protest—an incident caught on video and later reversed after public pressure.
His removal has been welcomed by critics, including Sowore, who called Adejobi “one of the worst policemen ever recruited” and described his career as proof of systemic rot within the Force.
Sowore’s criticism followed a recent police statement signed by Adejobi defending the activist’s arrest and denying reports that officers broke his hand, a claim contradicted by eyewitness accounts.
Police insiders say Adejobi’s redeployment signals the close of a contentious chapter for the Public Relations Department, though the controversies surrounding his tenure continue to cast a shadow on the Force’s credibility.
