Ajiran Case: Police Reaffirms AIG Jimoh’s Stand, Says Due Process Must Prevail

ABUJA — The Nigeria Police Force has reaffirmed the position of Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2, Lagos, AIG Olohundare Moshood Jimoh, that the Ajiran murders case should be allowed to proceed before the court without interference, media trial or pressure from social media campaigns.

The Force’s position came amid sustained public commentary by social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), concerning the senior police officer and the matter.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, said the case in question had already been investigated by the Police and was now before a court of competent jurisdiction following advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The Force consequently stressed that the matter, being sub judice, should be determined by the judiciary and not through public opinion or social media verdicts.

The development lends further institutional weight to AIG Jimoh’s decision to maintain his composure and refrain from engaging his accuser in a public exchange over the case.

Jimoh had earlier broken his silence on the controversy, making it clear that he would not join issues with his accuser on social media over a matter already before the courts.

Rather than engage in a war of words, the AIG challenged anyone with evidence of corruption, misconduct or any other wrongdoing against him to present such evidence before the appropriate authorities and the court.

The Police Force has now restated the same principle, insisting that allegations against serving officers must be properly presented, investigated and objectively assessed within the framework of the law.

The Force also revealed that AIG Jimoh himself had been invited by the AIG in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) for questioning over the allegations made against him.

According to the Police, the action is part of its internal accountability mechanisms and demonstrates that established procedures remain available for examining allegations against any officer, regardless of rank.

In a related move, the FCID, Abuja, formally invited Otse on July 30 to appear before the department and substantiate the allegations he had made publicly.

The Police said the invitation reflected its determination to investigate credible complaints through institutional channels rather than allowing matters involving its officers to be decided through social media campaigns.

CSP Iniedu explained that discipline within the Nigeria Police Force is regulated by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Police Act 2020, Police Regulations, Force Orders and other applicable administrative procedures.

These rules, the Force stressed, apply across the ranks and are designed to ensure that allegations are subjected to proper investigation before any disciplinary action is taken.

The Police acknowledged the constitutional right of Nigerians to freedom of expression and to demand accountability from public institutions. However, it cautioned that public advocacy should not become a substitute for due process or a means of establishing guilt before an allegation has been investigated.

“Allegations must be formally submitted, investigated and objectively assessed. Any officer found culpable following investigation will face sanctions in accordance with the law,” the statement said.

The Force also noted that where allegations are subsequently found to be false and deliberately intended to damage the reputation of an officer or the institution, it reserves the right to seek appropriate legal remedies.

The Police urged Otse to honour the FCID invitation and use the opportunity to provide evidence in support of his allegations, while allowing the separate criminal case before the court to follow its normal judicial course.

The latest development underscores AIG Jimoh’s earlier position that allegations of wrongdoing should be established through evidence and due process rather than public exchanges.

By refusing to engage in a prolonged social media confrontation and instead directing attention to the courts and established investigative mechanisms, the AIG has maintained that the appropriate institutions should be allowed to determine the facts of the matter.

The Nigeria Police Force, meanwhile, reiterated that accountability remains a core principle of the institution, stressing that while no officer is above the law, no officer should equally be sanctioned outside procedures prescribed by law.

“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 the law prescribes,” the statement added.

The Force reaffirmed its commitment to professionalism, transparency and impartial administration of justice, while urging all parties to allow the judiciary and relevant investigative authorities to perform their statutory responsibilities.