SP Adetarami Adegbehin (Rtd) on the sick bed (right) and still on active duty (left)
Africans for Human Rights International (AfriRights), a human rights organization based in Lagos, has fervently urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to provide immediate financial support for Adetarami Adegbehin, a retired Superintendent of Police (SP) who is gravely ill and bedridden.
According to a letter to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Adegbehin was a former Superintendent of Police who allegedly suffered life-threatening injuries in an accident in 2017 while still serving and on official duty (AP/No. 54161).
According to the letter, he was dealing with the fallout from a horrific car accident that happened on the way to Abuja while working as the Inspector General of Police Special Taskforce on Petroleum and Illegal Bunkering (IGPSTF) Uyo Sector Commander.
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After years of futile medical procedures, the tragedy, which was reported to have occurred on March 24, 2017, along the Kabba road in Kogi State, left him crippled and financially indebted.
Under the leadership of Comrade Dr. Afolabi Gbajumo, AfriRights revealed that the Nigeria Police Force had not paid the officer back for the bills he had accrued during and after his service, even though he had received numerous medical treatments at various hospitals, including Primus Specialist Hospital in Abuja, the National Orthopaedic Hospital in Igbobi, Reddington Hospital, Duchess International Hospital, LASUTH, and the B.P. Frank Trado-Medical Orthopedic Clinic in Ikorodu. The total amount spent on medical care as of July 2025 is ₦25,579,655. The organization bemoaned the officer’s plight, saying that the authorities he served had abandoned him despite his devoted 35 years of service and noteworthy accomplishments, such as community policing and infrastructure development throughout multiple states.
AfriRights highlighted a number of significant accomplishments made by Adegbehin throughout his active years, such as the building and refurbishment of police facilities in Ikeja, Ibadan, Sagamu, Badagry, and Ogba. These projects were mostly made possible by his kindness and community service initiatives. He continued to make a substantial contribution to the advancement of the police in Ogun and Lagos States even as he recovered from the tragedy. The retired officer’s many honors for his selfless service are highlighted in the letter. These include praise from the Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN), the US Consulate, and a number of Nigerian royal institutions. He continues to be neglected and in desperate need of humanitarian aid in spite of these honors and his commitment to public duty. Therefore, AfriRights has urged President Tinubu to take prompt action to pay the outstanding medical expenses and provide additional funding to ensure Adegbehin’s full recovery. The group contends that saving a man with such exceptional service and commitment would be both just and inspirational for other patriotic officers who are serving their country in difficult circumstances. Adegbehin is still confined to a bed in Ikorodu at the age of 59, despite the fact that he is still mentally capable and eager to contribute. The NGO emphasizes that rescuing him from this protracted agony will demonstrate Nigeria’s admiration for its heroes, particularly those who put their lives in danger to defend others.
