A prominent civil society organisation, the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), has issued a public call to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Inspector Adenusi Adebisi, who has allegedly been held in unlawful detention at the Force Headquarters since June 2025.
In an open letter dated September 10, the advocacy group condemned the officer’s detention as arbitrary and a violation of his fundamental human rights. Inspector Adebisi, 48, attached to the Ekiti State Command, was reportedly arrested after suggesting in a private police WhatsApp group that officers consider a strike to advocate for better welfare.
According to RULAAC, while eight other officers detained in connection with the incident were later released after an orderly room trial, Inspector Adebisi has remained in solitary confinement. The group alleges he has been subjected to cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.
“He has been denied access to his family, legal representation, and medical care,” the letter, signed by Executive Director Okechukwu Nwanguma, stated. The organisation raised a grave alarm over Inspector Adebisi’s health, claiming he developed bronchitis while in custody and “nearly died before belated hospitalisation.”
The report also contains serious allegations against the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), CSP Mahmoud D. Mohammed, who is accused of threatening Inspector Adebisi’s life and obstructing efforts to intervene on his behalf.
RULAAC highlighted that Inspector Adebisi was formally dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force on July 10, yet his detention continues. The group described this as a case of “double punishment and outright violation of his constitutional rights.”
The advocacy centre shared the plight of the officer’s family, noting that his wife, Mrs. Adenusi Damilola, has publicly spoken about the trauma and financial hardship her family is enduring due to the absence of their primary breadwinner.
RULAAC’s demands to the Inspector-General include not only the immediate release of Inspector Adebisi but also a thorough investigation into the conduct of CSP Mahmoud D. Mohammed. The group is also calling for better grievance redress mechanisms within the police force to prevent the intimidation of officers who raise welfare concerns.
“The Nigeria Police Force cannot claim to protect citizens’ rights while violating the rights of its own officers,” the statement concluded, urging the police leadership to act swiftly to “end this injustice” and restore confidence in the institution’s commitment to the rule of law.
As of the time of this report, the Force Public Relations Officer has not yet issued a formal response to the allegations made in the open letter.
