The police have asked Moshood Jimoh, an assistant inspector general of police (AIG), to come in for questioning. This follows claims linked to a twin murder case in Lagos State. They also want social media activist Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), to back up the allegations he has made publicly.
The police made this known in a statement on Tuesday. Their spokesperson, Ani Iniedu, a chief superintendent of police (CSP), said the criminal case at the heart of this issue has already been investigated. It is now before a court after getting legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
The police mentioned that this matter is "sub judice" and should be settled in court rather than through social media debates or public campaigns.
“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 police spokesperson said.
According to PREMIUM TIMES, the controversy started from the police investigation into the killing of youth leader Sheriff Salami in April 2023 and Ademola Akinloye, the son of an Ajiran traditional ruler, who was killed in August 2024.
After the investigation, Hammed Akanbi, a businessman, was declared wanted. He was arrested by INTERPOL in Benin Republic in April and brought back to Nigeria for prosecution.
VDM has publicly questioned the investigation, claiming that Mr Akanbi was wrongly accused. He argues that investigators manipulated evidence to make Mr Akanbi look like the mastermind behind the killings. VDM has also challenged Mr Jimoh to show the original statements from some suspects, saying they did not initially point fingers at Mr Akanbi.
In a separate matter, Mr Akanbi’s legal team has petitioned the Police Service Commission. They accuse Mr Jimoh of abusing his position, criminal defamation, conducting a media trial, and violating their client's right to be presumed innocent.
At the time of these incidents, Mr Jimoh was the Commissioner of Police in Lagos. He now leads Zone 2, a police command that oversees both Lagos and Ogun states.
The police have rejected the allegations. They insist that the investigation followed the right steps, relied on witness testimonies and other evidence, and moved to prosecution after the DPP advised that charges be pressed. Still, the allegations against Mr Jimoh have not been proven in any court.
The police stated that the AIG in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) invited Mr Jimoh for questioning about the allegations. The FCID in Abuja also formally invited VDM on 30 July to come and support the claims he has made publicly.
The police spokesperson said these separate invitations show the police's dedication to investigating serious allegations of misconduct, no matter the officer's rank or the complainant’s public standing.
“These steps reflect the Force’s commitment to investigate all credible allegations of misconduct, regardless of the rank of the officer involved or the public profile of the complainant,” he added.
The police also reminded Nigerians that they have the right to demand accountability from public institutions. But they said allegations against officers must go through proper procedures. Any officer found guilty will be punished according to the law, while false allegations meant to harm reputations could lead to legal action.
“Allegations must be formally submitted, investigated, and objectively assessed,” the police spokesperson stated. “Any officer found guilty following an investigation will face punishment under the law.”
“Also, where allegations are proven to be false and aimed at damaging the reputation of an officer or the institution, the Force can take appropriate legal steps,” he said.
The police have urged VDM to respect the invitation given to him and allow both the administrative review and the criminal proceedings to follow their legal paths.
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