He also alleged that in another case involving suspected fraudsters and a drug dealer, the suspects were quickly released after the DPO allegedly collected ₦500,000.

A human rights activist and radio presenter, Comrade Philip Adaramola, has raised alarm over alleged intimidation, assault, and threats of imprisonment by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ajuwon Police Division, CSP Joseph Yusuf, following his efforts to expose police misconduct in the area.

Comrade Adaramola, who serves as the President of Plebeians Against Human Rights Abuse (PAHRA) and Public Relations Officer of Ogun State Civil Society Organisations (CSO), told SaharaReporters that he has come under constant harassment for exposing alleged corruption involving officers under CSP Yusuf’s command.

In a detailed account shared on July 2, 2025, Adaramola stated that his troubles intensified after he began reporting several incidents of alleged extortion, bribery, and mishandling of criminal cases by officers of the Ajuwon Police Division, particularly involving land grabbers and suspected drug dealers.

He told SaharaReporters that one of the disturbing cases involved a suspected land grabber known as 'Omo Onile' who reportedly demolished people’s homes and resold their properties.

Adaramola claimed that instead of filing charges against the suspect, the DPO allegedly collected money and released him without interrogation.

He also alleged that in another case involving suspected fraudsters and a drug dealer, the suspects were quickly released after the DPO allegedly collected ₦500,000.

The human rights activist said that on July 2, 2025, while responding to a tip-off about police extortion along Olambe Road, he visited the area and introduced himself as an activist.

He said officers at the scene became aggressive, dragged him onto a motorcycle, and took him to the station, where he was allegedly assaulted and his clothes torn.

Adaramola said he told the police officers to stop harassing him and allow him to speak with the DPO.

He explained that when he finally got to his office, the DPO refused to listen to his side of the story.

According to him, the officers lied that he assaulted and obstructed them. However, he requested that the DPO check the CCTV footage, but he ignored his appeal.

Despite informing the DPO that he had a scheduled radio program at 5:00 p.m., Adaramola said he was detained and only released around 8:00 p.m. after being forced to write a statement.

Adaramola explained that he was told that the Commissioner of Police had directed that anyone who assaults police officers must be charged to court, a claim he says is being used to falsely prosecute him.

Adaramola's surety was reportedly summoned again and instructed to produce him at the DPO’s office by 7:00 a.m. the following morning for further legal action.

He, therefore, called on fellow activists, civil society groups, and the general public to intervene and closely monitor the actions of CSP Yusuf and the Ajuwon Police Division.

Adaramola stated, "The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ajuwon Police Division, CSP Joseph Yusuf, wants to send me to prison because I have been exposing corrupt activities involving his officers in our community.

"I got information that he has been extorting people around Shashi Akute; there is a case of one ‘omo onile’ (land grabber) who vandalises people's houses and sells them. Instead of the DPO of Ajuwon police division to charge them in court, he collects money from suspects and releases them without any interrogation.

"The DPO did the same thing on a case of Qnet. He has been collecting money from them and some other numerous cases like that.

"Three days ago, we got information about a case of a drug dealer who was arrested and taken to the station. We learnt that the suspect was released some hours later after the DPO collected N500,000 from him.

"On July 2, 2025, I got a call again that the police were extorting some people along Olambe Road. On getting there, I introduced myself but they did not even listen to me at all; they just started dragging me and saying I would follow them to the station, and I said okay.

"They dragged me on the bike; I didn't fight them. They took me to their station and when I got there, they started assaulting me. I told them to leave me alone that I needed to see the DPO, but they kept assaulting me. They asked if I was the only human rights person around there.

“They said I have been disturbing their work. So when we got to the DPO, I explained what happened, but the DPO did not respond to my side of the story. His police said I assaulted them and obstructed their work.

"I told the DPO that his men lied against me, that part of what happened in front of the DPO’s office can be viewed from the CCTV camera. I asked the DPO to check the camera covering their station. I also told the DPO that I had a radio program by 5 pm today, and DPO said I should write a statement and that he would not allow me to go.

"He later came back and told me that CP said any person that assaults police officers should be charged in court, that the CP had sent a signal to them. They arrested me at 4.20 pm before they released me on bail around 8 pm," he said.

"Now my surety called me that the DPO said he should bring me to his office by 7.00 am on Friday, that the CP said I should be charged in court for an offence I didn't commit.

When SaharaReporters contacted the spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, she said it’s within an officer’s discretion to stop and question such a person.

According to her, the officer stopped Samson Joseph Osamuye, a 25-year-old male, searched him, and found certain substances—specifically, drugs.

Odutola said that Adaramola called and started questioning the police’s actions: ‘Why are you doing this? Why are you arresting my boys?—things like that.'

According to the police spokesperson, she understands he’s a respected and honourable man, but even then, he should not interfere with police officers lawfully performing their duties.

She said, "As police officers, we are very upright individuals. Sometimes, like I always say, when police officers decide to fully enforce the law, it may seem harsh to some people.

"So, when it looks like the police are strictly enforcing the law, certain people in society may label us as being brutal. But regarding what you just asked me—that’s not what happened at all. The officers were on a lawful and peaceful mission. We were legitimately on patrol, performing our duties.

"Now, sometimes officers need to stop and search individuals—say, someone with a cross bag or acting suspiciously. It’s within an officer’s discretion to stop and question such a person. That’s what happened in this case. The officer flagged him down, searched him, and found certain substances—specifically, drugs."

She said, "As a civilian—or even as a journalist—what business do you have interfering with a police operation? When the officers found the substances on the suspect, Adaramola started threatening, saying, "I’ll deal with you. I’m a journalist.

"No. A journalist should not speak recklessly in public. If you have a complaint against an officer, there are proper channels for that. Not on the road.

"It also seemed like he was under the influence, yet he kept escalating the matter. He got to the station and still continued. He shouted, made a scene."

Odutola told SaharaReporters that being a journalist doesn't give him the right to disrespect police officers.

She said, "When you see a police officer in uniform, it's only proper to show respect—just as journalists expect respect too. But some journalists threaten officers, saying things like, 'I will finish you; I’ll show you I’m a journalist.' Is that right?

"If a police officer stops someone, and there’s a reasonable suspicion, allow us to carry out our preliminary investigation. If we find nothing, we let the person go. That’s standard procedure. We may not be as good with the pen as journalists are, but we have a job to do."

"Even at the station, he continued being aggressive and abusive. He allegedly assaulted a police officer. So now we’ve moved beyond the initial case of found substances—it became a case of assault and obstruction of police duty," she explained.

"And now people are saying we’re trying to jail him. Tell me, can a police officer jail anyone? No! A police officer only takes your statement and charges you to court. It’s the court that determines the outcome, based on the evidence."

Meanwhile, in a statement released on Thursday, Odutola disclosed that the Command remains steadfast in upholding professional policing standards and will not condone any act of indiscipline by police officers as well as unlawful interference in the duties of its officers

The statement read, "The attention of the Ogun State Police Command has been drawn to an allegation of professional misconduct made against the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ajuwon Division by one Philip Adaramola. The Command wishes to categorically refute the claims and provide a factual account of the incident.

"On 2nd July, 2025, officers attached to Ajuwon Division, while conducting a routine stop-and-search operation at Olambe Matogun, in Ogun State, apprehended Samson Joseph Osamuye, a 25-year-old male, in possession of substances suspected to be hard drugs.”

She said that the suspect was promptly taken into custody for further investigation.

"While the officers were performing this lawful duty, Philip Adaramola appeared at the scene and exhibited aggressive and disruptive behaviour. He used unprintable language on the officers, issued threats, and obstructed the lawful arrest of the suspect.

"Upon arrival at the station, Adaramola escalated his conduct by physically assaulting Sergeant Merotiwon Babajide, delivering a blow to his hand without provocation. He was made to write a statement under caution and is scheduled to be arraigned in court on 3rd July, 2025," Odutola added.