A Lagos-based human rights organisation, Africans for Human Rights International (AfriRights), has issued an impassioned appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for urgent financial intervention to save retired Superintendent of Police, Adetiarami Adegbehin, who remains severely ill and bedridden following injuries sustained in the line of duty.
In a letter addressed to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, AfriRights detailed the plight of Adegbehin (AP/No. 54161), a former Uyo Sector Commander in the Inspector General of Police Special Taskforce on Petroleum and Illegal Bunkering (IGPSTF). The officer was involved in a devastating motor accident along Kabba Road, Kogi State, on March 24, 2017, while travelling to Abuja on official assignment. Since then, he has endured multiple surgeries, intensive care, and a prolonged recovery that has left him incapacitated and deeply in debt.
Despite receiving treatment at notable institutions—including Primus Specialist Hospital (Abuja), National Orthopaedic Hospital (Igbobi), Reddington Hospital, Duchess International Hospital, LASUTH, and currently B.P. Frank Trado-Medical Orthopaedic Clinic (Ikorodu)—the Nigeria Police Force has reportedly failed to reimburse the medical expenses incurred. As of July 2025, total costs amount to ₦25,579,655.
AfriRights, led by Comrade Dr. Afolabi Gbajumo, expressed grave concern over what it described as a shameful neglect of a once-vibrant officer who dedicated 35 years to the nation. Adegbehin is celebrated for spearheading infrastructure development and fostering community policing in multiple states, including Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo. The organisation cited the renovation of police buildings in Ikeja, Ibadan, Sagamu, Badagry, and Ogba—projects largely driven by his personal goodwill and community engagement.
The letter also emphasised the many accolades Adegbehin has earned throughout his career, including commendations from the United States Consulate, the Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN), and numerous traditional institutions across the country.
Now 59 years old, Adegbehin remains mentally alert and eager to continue contributing to society but is confined to a hospital bed in Ikorodu. AfriRights implores President Tinubu to settle the outstanding medical bills and provide additional financial aid to enable his full recovery. The NGO argued that such an act would serve not only as a gesture of justice but also as an encouraging signal to other officers serving under difficult conditions.
“No official response has yet been received from the Presidency, the Police Force, or the Police Service Commission regarding Adegbehin’s case,” AfriRights noted. “Time is of the essence. We pray the authorities will not wait until it’s too late.”
