By: Mandy Park
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has reiterated that the criminal trial arising from the Ajiran murders should be allowed to proceed without interference from media campaigns or public pressure, urging social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), to present any evidence against the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 2 Command, Lagos, AIG Olohundare Moshood Jimoh, through established legal channels.
The Force made its position known in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, following weeks of allegations by VeryDarkMan accusing AIG Jimoh of misconduct in the handling of the high-profile murder case.
According to the Police, the Ajiran murders case was comprehensively investigated before charges were filed in a court of competent jurisdiction based on legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP). As the matter is now before the court, the Force said it would refrain from engaging in public debate that could prejudice the judicial process.
“The Nigeria Police Force will not participate in a media trial or allow public commentary to undermine ongoing judicial proceedings,” the statement said.
The Force also referenced the recent response by AIG Jimoh, who dismissed calls for a public exchange over the controversy, insisting that anyone with credible evidence of wrongdoing against him should submit such evidence through the appropriate legal and administrative channels rather than social media platforms.
In a move aimed at demonstrating transparency and institutional accountability, the Police disclosed that the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) had invited AIG Jimoh for questioning as part of an internal review of the allegations.
Similarly, the FCID Headquarters in Abuja reportedly issued a formal invitation to VeryDarkMan on July 30, requesting that he appear before investigators and provide evidence to substantiate the claims he had made publicly against the senior police officer.
CSP Iniedu said the parallel actions reflected the Force’s commitment to ensuring that allegations of misconduct are investigated through established institutional mechanisms, irrespective of the rank of the officer involved or the public profile of the complainant.
He explained that disciplinary processes within the Nigeria Police Force are governed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Police Act 2020, the Police Regulations, Force Orders and other extant administrative guidelines, all of which apply equally to every police officer.
While acknowledging the constitutional rights of Nigerians to freedom of expression and to hold public institutions accountable, the Police cautioned that such rights must be exercised responsibly and should not be used to spread unverified allegations or seek disciplinary sanctions through public campaigns.
“Allegations must be formally submitted, investigated and objectively assessed. Any officer found culpable following investigation will face appropriate sanctions in accordance with the law,” the statement said.
The Force further warned that it reserves the right to pursue legal remedies against individuals who deliberately make false or defamatory allegations intended to damage the reputation of police officers or the institution.
The Police urged VeryDarkMan to honour the invitation extended by the FCID, cooperate fully with investigators and allow both the ongoing judicial proceedings in the Ajiran murders case and the administrative review to take their lawful course.
Reaffirming its commitment to professionalism, accountability and the rule of law, the Force maintained that no police officer is above the law, no genuine complaint will be ignored, and no disciplinary action will be taken outside the procedures prescribed by law.
The controversy has continued to attract significant public attention, with many Nigerians following developments on social media. However, legal experts have consistently advised that allegations of official misconduct should be determined through established investigative and judicial processes to safeguard the integrity of both criminal proceedings and internal disciplinary mechanisms.