Court grants bail to police officer dismissed over WhatsApp strike comment

A Magistrate’s Court in Wuse, Abuja, has granted bail to a 48-year-old police officer, Adebiyi Adenusi, who was arrested and dismissed after allegedly calling on colleagues to embark on a strike through a WhatsApp group chat.

Adenusi, who served in the Nigeria Police Force for 23 years, was arrested in June after he reacted to a viral video of a retired police superintendent who reportedly received only ₦2 million as retirement benefits.

In his comment posted on the WhatsApp group Intelligence Information Unit, Adenusi suggested that officers should consider a strike to press for improved welfare.

Though he later deleted the message, a screenshot was forwarded to senior authorities.

Following the incident, he was invited to the Ekiti State Police Command, arrested, and transferred to Abuja, where he was brought before the Inspector General of Police’s office.

He was later arraigned before Magistrate Ibrahim Okpe on charges of sedition linked to incitement of a police protest.

His lawyer, Barrister Samuel Ihensekhien, argued for his release, after which the court granted bail on liberal terms.

Adenusi’s family disclosed that his dismissal came on July 10, 2025, after an orderly room trial, while eight other officers linked to the WhatsApp group were also arrested and detained for 17 days.

The detained officers included 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).

Unlike Adenusi, the other officers were not dismissed but had their ranks reduced before being released on August 4, 2025.