Group tasks IGP, delist name of philanthropist from wanted List

A civil society organisation the Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR) has appealed to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun to prevail on the office of the Force Police Public Relations Officer( FPPRO) to delist the name of a United Kingdom-based Nigerian philanthropist, Chief (Mrs) Dorcas Adeyinka from its wanted list in respect of her fundamental human rights and humanitarian services to hapless Nigerians.

The CHSR President Comrade Alex Omotehinse, made this appeal during a press conference at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos on Monday, stated that Adeyinka was detained in 2024 over issues bothering on a twin mother Mrs Foluso Asimiyu, who she helped, but later died.

Omotehinse stated that Adeyinka, who has been assisting the less-privileged in Nigeria with cash, food items and scholarship awards through Dorcas Adeyinka Empowerment Foundation, was detained for 21 days over the matter before autopsy revealed that the deceased died of complications from tuberculosis.

“We are here today to update you on recent development regarding Chief (Mrs.) Dorcas Adeyinka, the Founder and CEO of Dorcas Adeyinka Empowerment Foundation.

“You will recall that sometimes last year, on Sunday July 21, 2024 to be precise, we held a press conference at the Liberation Centre intimating the public of alleged murder, police brutality, unlawful detention, and abuse of office power.

“We demanded that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) should be firm and resolute in curbing the action and inactions of his officers to avoid dragging the institution name into the mud based on a “Save Our Soul” complaint letter received from Dorcas Adeyinka Empowerment Foundation.

“Following a careful review of the complaint letter and our visit to the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja to meet the IGP monitoring team in charge of the case, we were then informed by the team leader; DCP Elema that the team has concluded their investigation and submitted its report to appropriate quarters that it was the office of the Force Police Public Relations Officer (FPPRO) that declared Dorcas wanted, which is not part of their report.

“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, was later detained for 21 days at Abuja after her appearance.

“It took the effort of the detainee’s legal team to seek her release by filing for the enforcement of her fundamental human right in an Abuja high court pending the outcome of the deceased’s autopsy,” he said.

The activist stated that autopsy report exonerated Mrs. Dorcas Adeyinka, that the deceased cause of death was tuberculosis.

According to him, the autopsy report vindicated Dorcas, which he said corroborated her earlier position that she knew nothing about the death of the deceased, but only rendered assistance to the family by taking them off the streets.

He stressed that “in a saner environment, Dorcas Adeyinka’s name ought to have been delisted from wanted list since the day she get to the police custody, discharged and acquitted of all charges with compensation for maligning her name and character assassination, but instead the police warned and threatened her not to go public after the autopsy report.”

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“Surprisingly, Chief Mrs. Dorcas Adeyinka alleged that till this moment, the FPPRO, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi is yet to flag down her name from the wanted list, that her opponents are still using it against her on social media and also having her account frozen by the Nigeria Police Force.

“Though, we were reliably informed that Dorcas Adeyinka’s legal team have dragged ACP Muyiwa Adejobi and one officer Tope Saint Williams before the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) with a petition letter dated Friday, 9 May, 2025.

“CHSR as a reputable organisation humbly appeals to IGP office and person to as a matter of urgency, in the interest of fair hearing and justice, delist Dorcas Adeyinka from wanted list and also unfrozen her account,” he said.

Testifying to the activities of Mrs Dorcas Adeyinka at the briefing, Mrs Olupitan Funmilola, said that she has done so many things for people through her.

Olupitan revealed that Adeyinka even surprisingly empowered her with one million naira in December, 2024.

“She still helped somebody through me about a month ago. We want justice for her, she is the kind of person we need in Nigeria,” she said.

Also speaking, Mr. Taofeek Ola Asimiyu, a brother to the husband of the late Foluso, said that Adeyinka has done a lot for his family.

“The woman that died, Mrs Foluso Asimyu was the wife of my brother, Surajudeen Asimyu.

“Adeyinka doesn’t even know my brother and his wife. What they did for her is unfair. She was sent by God to do what she is doing. She was punished unjustly.

“My brother was detained by the Police for 16 days in Ifo, Ogun State and for three months in Abuja. He is still sick till today.

“I don’t understand the society we are in. Some people are even still threatening to pick the twins of my brother, we have to be taking them into safe places. Surajudeen Asimiyu, my brother was also punished unjustly,” he stated.