Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has cleared the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2, Lagos, AIG Moshood Jimoh, of allegations levelled against him through an internal administrative review, while insisting that social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), must provide evidence to substantiate the claims he made against the senior officer.
The Force, in a statement issued on Tuesday by its spokesperson, CSP Ani Iniedu, said the criminal case linked to the Ajiran killings in Lagos State had already been investigated and charged 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 judiciary, stressing that it would not permit the case to be tried through media campaigns or public commentary.
The statement explained that, in line with its internal accountability procedures, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) invited AIG Jimoh for questioning over the allegations.
It said the administrative review found no basis for further disciplinary action against the senior officer and directed that the judicial process should continue without interference.
The Police also disclosed that the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja, had on July 30, 2026, formally invited VeryDarkMan to appear before investigators and present evidence to support the allegations he made publicly against AIG Jimoh.
Reaffirming its commitment to accountability, the Force said all allegations against police personnel, irrespective of rank, would continue to be investigated through established disciplinary channels.
“The criminal matter referenced in public commentary was investigated and is now before a court of competent jurisdiction following the advice of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions. As the matter is sub judice, its adjudication rests solely with the judiciary. 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 Police maintained that while Nigerians have the constitutional right to freedom of expression and to demand accountability from public institutions, such rights do not extend to defamation or the publication of unsubstantiated allegations aimed at influencing disciplinary outcomes outside due process.
It warned that any officer found culpable after investigation would be sanctioned in accordance with the Constitution, the Police Act 2020, Police Regulations and Force Orders.
The Force added that where allegations are established to be false and deliberately intended to damage the reputation of an officer or the institution, it reserves the right to pursue appropriate legal remedies.
The Police urged VeryDarkMan to honour the invitation extended to him by the FCID and cooperate with investigators, stressing that grievances against police officers should be addressed through established complaint and oversight mechanisms rather than public campaigns.
It also reaffirmed its commitment to professionalism, transparency and the impartial administration of justice, insisting that no officer is above the law and no genuine complaint would be ignored.
The controversy arose after Lagos businessman Hammed Tajudeen Akanbi was declared wanted by the Police over his alleged involvement in violent crimes, including the killings of Sheriff Ishola, a youth leader, on April 18, 2023, and Ademola Akinloye, son of a traditional ruler, on August 26, 2024, in the Ajiran area of Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State. Akanbi was subsequently arrested by the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) in Cotonou, Benin Republic, after months of investigation.
Following the arrest, VeryDarkMan released a series of videos on social media questioning the Police investigation and alleging that Akanbi had been falsely implicated because of a land dispute.
He also accused AIG Jimoh of conspiring with others to frame the businessman.
AIG Jimoh rejected the allegations, maintaining that investigators had gathered sufficient evidence to sustain the prosecution and insisting that the matter should be determined by the court rather than on social media.
