CHSR Seeks Governor Sanwo-Olu’s Intervention In Ending Alleged Police Harassment Of UK-Based Blogger, Dorcas Adeyinka
The Centre for Human and Socio-economic Rights (CHSR) has called on Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to intervene in the case of a Nigerian blogger, Mrs. Dorcas Adeyinka, who was declared wanted by the police.
CHSR, a corporate body that defends, sustains, and promotes cultural and fundamental human rights of citizens, is calling for urgent intervention by the Lagos State government to urge the leadership of the police force to remove the blogger from ‘wanted list’.
The human rights group alleged that the police declared her wanted without proper notification or due process, which, as enshrined in the Police Acts, Code of Conduct, and Ethics, not only violated her rights but also perpetuated the cycle of injustice.
In May, the police declared the blogger based in the United Kingdom, wanted over allegations of cyber-stalking, abduction and murder.
According to a Special Police Gazette Bulletin shared on the NPF’s official X handle, Adeyinka was declared wanted by the Inspector-General of Police Monitoring Unit, Abuja.
The allegations against her also include injurious falsehood, threat to life and extortion.
This statement by CHSR President Comrade Alex Omotehinse, reads, “Following careful review of the petition and our subsequent findings, we unraveled an orchestrated ploy to trample on her rights to means of freedom with regards to false murder allegations, illegal displaying of nude images, conspiracy to indict, and the latest action of the Nigeria Police Force in declaring her wanted without due process, shocked and amazed us and the red alert is uncalled for…”
The organisation said it wished “to draw the attention of your office to the under-listed verifiable material facts provided by the petitioners and which form the basis of our demands for your urgent intervention and her protection as a citizens with rights to free movement and earn legitimate means of survival within the framework of extant laws and regulations of Lagos State”.
“The petitioner is Chief Mrs. Dorcas Adeyinka, a Nigerian-born British citizen, the chief executive officer of Dorcas Adeyinka Empowerment Foundation, a foundation of hope for thousands of Nigeria citizens,” it said.
It continued, “The petitioner was invited by Nigeria Police force to Abuja headquarters for investigation which she appeared in person and agreed by all parties that further engagement will be communicated to them but in a shocking turn of events, the Nigeria Police Force declared her wanted without proper notification or due process as enshrined in the Police acts, code of conduct and ethics not only violated her rights but also perpetuated the cycle of injustice.
“The petitioner believed that the cyber gladiator’s reprehensive act of illegally displaying nude images of her on social media represents a new low in online harassment and it’s a deliberate intent to defame and degrade her person which highlight dangers of weaponing social media platforms for personal vendettas.”
[Sahara reporter]
