BREAKING: Abuja Magistrate Court Grants Bail To Police Inspector Detained For WhatsApp Comment On Protest

AMagistrate Court sitting in Wuse, Abuja, has granted bail to Inspector Adebiyi Adenusi, a 48-year-old police officer who has been in detention since June 23 at the Force Intelligence Department (FID).

Inspector Adenusi, attached to the Ekiti State Police Command until his arrest and detention, was arraigned before Magistrate Court 2 on charges of sedition linked to a police protest.

The bail application, argued by his counsel, Barrister Samuel Ihensekhien, was taken up by Magistrate Ibrahim Okpe, who heard the case of sedition and granted bail on liberal conditions.

On Monday, SaharaReporters reported that Adenusi’s family had cried out over his continued detention.

He was arrested and detained in June after suggesting in a WhatsApp group that officers embark on a strike to demand better welfare for serving and retired personnel.

Despite serving in the Nigeria Police Force for 23 years, Adebisi was kept in custody even after being formally dismissed from the Force.

A family source told SaharaReporters that Adenusi’s ordeal began after he commented in a police WhatsApp group, Intelligence Information Unit, created by one Prince Emoruwa Olabode from Ondo State.

According to the source, on June 18, 2025, an officer identified as Rukevwe shared a viral video of a retired police superintendent who reportedly received only ₦2 million as a retirement benefit.

In reaction, Adenusi commented that officers should consider embarking on a strike to demand better welfare, a post he later deleted.

Unknown to him, someone had taken a screenshot of the comment and forwarded it to higher authorities.

The family source said shortly after, Adenusi was invited to the Ekiti State Police Headquarters, where he was arrested and subsequently transferred to Abuja.

The source told SaharaReporters that when Adenusi arrived in Abuja, he was taken to the IGP’s office. Later, eight other officers linked to the WhatsApp group were also arrested, including three administrators.

The arrested officers were identified as ASP Morawem Kingsley (Edo Command), Inspector Kaleb Daniel (Delta Command), Inspector Otamere Ewamade (23 PMF, Lagos), Inspector Fasoyim Ayodeji, Inspector Ologun Oreoluwa (Ogun Command), Sgt Raji Nifule (Ogun Command), Emomuna Olabode (Ondo Command), and Inspector Adeleke Ramonu (Mopol 25, Abuja).

According to the family source, the officers were detained for 17 days, tried in an orderly room, and on July 10, Adenusi was dismissed from the force.

However, the other officers had their ranks reduced but were released on August 4, 2025.