Ajiran Murder: Ijele Fires Back at VDM, Unveils Petition-to-Arrest Timeline

ABUJA — The Convener of the Police Integrity Movement (PIM), Mr. Isaiah Davies Ijele, has strongly rejected claims by social media influencer VeryDarkMan (VDM) over the investigation into the murder of Sheriff Salimi and Prince Ademola in Ajiran, Lagos, describing the narrative as misleading and unsupported by the sequence of events surrounding the case.

Ijele made the position known on Arise TV, where he appeared to exercise the Police Integrity Movement’s right of reply to VDM’s earlier comments on the matter.

He said it was inaccurate to portray Assistant Inspector-General of Police, AIG Jimoh Moshood, as having arbitrarily attributed the murder to Ahmed Tajudeen or any other person mentioned in connection with the investigation.

According to Ijele, the police action followed a formal petition and subsequent directives from the office of the Inspector-General of Police, rather than being based on the personal decision of the AIG.

How the Investigation Restarted

Providing what he described as the chronology of events, Ijele said a petition concerning the murder case was submitted to the Inspector-General of Police and received at the IGP’s office on January 7, 2026.

He said the petition was subsequently minuted to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police for necessary action.

Ijele further stated that the matter reached the office of AIG Jimoh Moshood on January 8, 2026, after which the investigative process gathered momentum.

He disclosed that the first arrest in connection with the murder was made on January 26, 2026, approximately three weeks after the petition reached the IGP’s office.

The development, he argued, was significant because the case had remained without an arrest for about three years before the renewed intervention.

Ijele said the timeline effectively countered claims suggesting that the police suddenly targeted individuals without a prior complaint or investigative basis.

He also disclosed that Fabo and Bariga were among the names mentioned in the petition forwarded to the IGP before the Lagos State Police Command commenced action.

‘Do Not Mistake Media Claims for Investigation’

The PIM Convener cautioned Nigerians against treating claims made during media interviews as the final determination of a criminal investigation.

He said whatever VDM presented during his interview should be subjected to verification and weighed against evidence obtained through the formal investigative process.

Ijele maintained that neither social-media commentary nor television interviews should be allowed to replace the work of professional investigators or the eventual determination of the courts.

He said the Police Integrity Movement was particularly concerned that the public could be misled into believing that the police had already reached a final conclusion on the guilt of individuals connected to the case.

PIM Defends Jimoh Moshood

Ijele also defended the conduct of AIG Jimoh Moshood, pointing to what he said was recognition from the Inspector-General of Police of the progress made in the investigation.

According to him, the IGP commended Moshood over the handling of the case, particularly the first arrest made after years without a breakthrough.

Ijele said such developments should be viewed as evidence that the police were taking concrete steps to unravel the circumstances surrounding the murder.

He consequently urged members of the public to distinguish between an arrest made in the course of an investigation and a final determination of guilt.

‘Police Invitation Is Not Malicious’

The PIM Convener also dismissed suggestions that the police invitation extended to VDM was necessarily an act of persecution.

He said an invitation by law enforcement authorities, especially in connection with an ongoing investigation, should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of malicious intent.

Ijele further recalled VDM’s previous role in pushing for police action against businessman Blord, which he said eventually resulted in Blord’s arrest and being brought to Abuja.

He therefore questioned the consistency of demanding that the law be applied to others while resisting the same legal process when directed at oneself.

“If you are an advocate of rule of law, you must also be a keeper of the same law,” Ijele declared during the programme.

He stressed that nobody should be considered above the law on account of celebrity status, social-media influence or public popularity.

IGP Clarifies VDM Invitation

Ijele also referred to the Inspector-General of Police’s reported clarification that the invitation issued to VDM was made without his knowledge.

He said the clarification was important in addressing suggestions that the police invitation represented a directive from the highest level of the force.

The PIM therefore called on Nigerians to allow the investigation to proceed and permit the courts to determine the legal issues arising from the matter.

‘Let the Facts Speak’

Ijele said the Police Integrity Movement was not asking the public to prejudge anyone involved in the Ajiran murder case, but rather to allow due process to take its course.

He maintained that the police have a responsibility to investigate allegations, gather evidence and identify persons who may have information relevant to a case, while the courts remain responsible for determining criminal liability.

He said the events following the January 7 petition, including the directive to the Lagos State Police Command and the January 26 arrest, should therefore be considered when assessing the conduct of the police in the matter.

The PIM Convener urged the public to focus on the documented timeline and evidence rather than social-media narratives.

He said the movement would continue to support accountability, professionalism and adherence to the rule of law, insisting that the same standard must apply to everyone, irrespective of status or influence.

Ijele’s appearance on Arise TV, he said, was intended to put the Police Integrity Movement’s position on record and correct what it considered misconceptions surrounding the Ajiran murder investigation and the role of AIG Jimoh Moshood.

The group maintained that the ultimate resolution of the matter should be determined by evidence, due process and the courts, rather than by public opinion or social-media campaigns.