Police spokesman slammed for flouting traffic laws

The Nigerian police spokesman was the subject of a barrage of criticism on social media on Tuesday after he tweeted that he was on the phone while driving.

Muyiwa Adejobi, the Force's PRO, said he was making a phone call while driving in Abuja when he was stopped by a Federal Road Safety Corps official.

He said the FRSC official then overheard him ordering a divisional police officer to "put a person in cell d" and allowed him to leave.

"That is to say 'to every rule, there must be an exception to save certain situations'. Lol."

Mr Adejobi's tweet was met with heavy criticism from social media users, and he later went back on his story saying he wanted to 'test the strength of fake news'. Contempt

Making a phone call while driving is a violation of Nigerian traffic laws and carries a six-month prison sentence, according to the FRSC.

Rinu Oduala, Project Manager at The Hub Nigeria, reacted to Mr. Adejobi's tweet, saying he had broken the law.

"Wonder why your own officers also act like they're above the law?

"You broke traffic rules, 'put a person in a cell', used your office to evade the law, then covered it all up with 'to every rule there must be an exception. If Nigeria was a tweet."

Chidi Lemchi, a social media user, said: "You are a policeman that I respect a lot here. You and Mr. Benjamin and one of the brilliant minds of the police. Not seeing that your action is a abuse of power is disappointing."

Anthony Adelaja, another social media user, said Mr Adejobi's action could put "innocent lives" at risk.

He added that whether or not there is an exception to the rule, "it still doesn't excuse you using a cell phone while driving.

"There can be no exceptions to ensure that all road users are safe!"

Abdul Fatah, another social media user, said the law is made for everyone to obey.

"Ordering your DPD to detain a suspect should not be your weapon of intimidation or an emergency. You could have pulled over to use your phone. Think about it, officer."

While the majority criticized the PRO, @iamonyenonu advised him to lead by example.

"I understand that there are exceptions to the rules, but this one is not necessary, sir. You can use your hands free and avoid breaking the rule.

"Believe me, some of your junior colleagues in this space would abuse it and stick to your quote."

“This kind of exception is inexcusable and unforgivable. You should have parked to give the order sir,” @yinkaisola tweeted.

“Many Nigerians, especially civilians, have been fined and insulted even when they have good reason to use their phones while driving.

With all due respect, don't try again, sir."

After the tweet by Mr. Adejobi, a chief superintendent of police, drew thousands of criticisms of his action, he was forced to post another tweet seven hours later, claiming that the incident " didn't even happen".

That didn't even happen, as I don't drive on duty myself, except outside of working hours, and road safety officers don't operate until 6:00 or 7:00 p.m. maximum. I have only tested the strength of fake news, and we can see how it spreads like harmattan hell,” he tweeted.

He also called for "more education on assimilation and education".

A former vice president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Monday Ubani, told this newspaper that if Mr Adejobi lied about his earlier statement, it means he lacks integrity .

"If it is true that he tweeted admitting he committed a traffic violation, if he is now taking down that tweet and now saying it is fake news when he knows in his heart that it wasn't fake news, so he's got it wrong. And he lacks integrity, that's what it means."

Bisi Kazeem, the FRSC spokesperson, s...