Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has suspended his Senior Special Assistant on Print Media, Mr. Wale Ajetunmobi, over controversial comments made on his personal X (formerly Twitter) account. The announcement was made in a statement released on Tuesday by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile.

The suspension came after Ajetunmobi, posting under the handle #Riddwane, made claims on social media about the alleged fate of arsonists involved in the 2020 #EndSARS protests that led to the burning of the Television Continental (TVC) station in Lagos. In his post, Ajetunmobi claimed that many of the individuals involved in the attack had been “hunted down and executed,” including a young boy allegedly found with an AK-47 rifle in the Ketu area.

The remarks sparked public outrage, with many questioning the implication of extra-judicial actions. Ajetunmobi, in subsequent responses, attempted to clarify his statement, suggesting the deaths occurred during confrontations with security forces and denying that extra-judicial killings had taken place.

Reacting to the incident, the Lagos State Government emphasized that it does not condone any form of extra-judicial punishment or actions that could undermine the rule of law. The statement reiterated that the Sanwo-Olu administration upholds justice and accountability as core principles.

In a follow-up post on his X account, Ajetunmobi apologized for the use of the word “executed,” describing it as an error and emphasizing that his remarks were his personal opinion, not reflective of the government’s stance. Despite deleting the controversial post, the backlash continued, prompting his suspension.

The 2020 attack on TVC had left over 250 staff unable to work after the station’s facilities were destroyed by fire, leading to significant operational disruptions. Governor Sanwo-Olu, during a visit to the station at the time, had condemned the incident and assured the management of the government’s support.

This latest development underscores the administration’s commitment to transparency and its zero-tolerance policy for unverified or controversial statements that could tarnish its image or misrepresent its position on critical issues. Ajetunmobi’s suspension remains in effect as the government reviews the situation.