Isaac Samuel
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has reaffirmed its commitment to due process, institutional discipline and the rule of law, saying social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has been invited to substantiate allegations he made against the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 2, Lagos, Moshood Jimoh.
The Force also disclosed that AIG Jimoh has been invited by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) for questioning as part of its internal administrative review of the allegations.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, the police said the criminal matter that has generated public debate had already been investigated and is now before a court of competent jurisdiction following legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
According to the police, the matter is now sub judice and can only be determined by the courts.
“The Force will not try this case in the media, nor will it allow its outcome to be shaped by public campaigns or commentary seeking to prejudge the officers or parties involved,” the statement said.
The latest statement by the Nigeria Police Force follows weeks of public exchanges between VeryDarkMan (VDM), and Jimoh, over the investigation of the Ajiran double murder case in Lagos.
The controversy began after VDM accused Jimoh of corruption, abuse of office and compromising the investigation into the killings of Prince Ademola Akinloye, son of the Ojomu of Ajiran, and Sheriff Ishola Salami.
The activist also alleged that key statements made by two suspects in the case had disappeared from the police investigation file and challenged the senior police officer to institute criminal defamation proceedings if the allegations were false.
Police records and documents that later surfaced, however, presented a different account of the investigation.
According to the records, the probe into the murders was reopened in January 2026 after the Inspector-General of Police directed a fresh investigation following a petition submitted on behalf of the Ojomu Chieftaincy Family of Ajiran.
At the time, Jimoh was serving as Commissioner of Police in Lagos before his elevation to Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2.
The police investigation subsequently led to the arrest of businessman Hammed Tajudeen Akanbi, who was declared wanted before being apprehended by the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) in Cotonou, Benin Republic, on April 15, 2026.
He was extradited to Nigeria two days later and arraigned over allegations linked to the killings. Police had also displayed items recovered from the suspect, including a Lexus LX570 SUV, a passport and mobile phones.
The Force has consistently maintained that the investigation was conducted on the basis of witness statements, forensic evidence and court orders, stressing that the case file was reviewed by the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), whose legal advice paved the way for prosecution.
The criminal case is currently before a court of competent jurisdiction, with the police insisting that issues relating to the guilt or innocence of those involved can only be determined by the judiciary.
In recent weeks, civil society organisations, including the Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR) and the South West Youth Alliance (SWYA), have also urged the public to allow the judicial process to take its course, arguing that allegations against public officials should be tested through evidence and the courts rather than through social media campaigns.
In the statement on Tuesday, the police explained that while the criminal proceedings are ongoing before the court, the Force has also activated its internal accountability mechanisms by inviting AIG Jimoh for questioning over the allegations levelled against him.
It added that on July 30, 2026, the Force CID formally invited VDM to appear at its Abuja headquarters to provide evidence in support of claims he had made publicly against the senior police officer.
According to the Force, the actions demonstrate its readiness to investigate all credible allegations of misconduct irrespective of the rank of the officer involved or the public profile of the complainant.
The police noted that complaints against officers are handled through established institutional channels, including the Force CID, the Force Complaint Response Unit and, where necessary, the Office of the Inspector-General of Police.
The Force stressed that disciplinary proceedings within the Nigeria Police are guided by the Constitution, the Police Act 2020, Police Regulations, Force Orders and other administrative procedures, which apply equally to all officers regardless of rank.
While acknowledging the constitutional right of Nigerians to express themselves freely and demand accountability from public institutions, the police cautioned against using unverified allegations to pressure authorities into taking disciplinary actions outside legally recognised procedures.
It maintained that any officer found culpable after investigation would be sanctioned in accordance with the law, while false allegations deliberately aimed at damaging the reputation of officers or the institution could attract legal consequences.
The police urged VDM to honour the invitation extended to him by the Force CID and cooperate with investigators, while allowing both the administrative review and the ongoing court proceedings to run their lawful course.
“The Nigeria Police Force remains an institution founded on law, discipline and accountability. No officer is above the law, and no genuine complaint is ignored; nor will any officer be sanctioned outside the procedures prescribed by law,” the statement added.
