Police invite VDM, summon AIG Moshood Jimoh over allegations

The Nigeria Police Force has invited social critic, Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), and has begun questioning the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Moshood Jimoh over allegations raised by VDM about a m#rder case.

In a statement released by its spokesperson, CSP Ani Iniedu, on Tuesday, August 4, the force said the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Abuja, had formally invited AIG Jimoh for questioning in connection with the allegations.

It added that the Force CID, Abuja, on July 30, 2026, issued a letter of invitation to Otse, requesting him to appear before the department to substantiate claims he made publicly.

VDM had accused AIG Jimoh of manipulating the outcome of an investigation into the k!lling of a youth leader Sheriff Salami in April 2023 and the k!lling of Ademola Akinloye, the son of an Ajiran traditional ruler, in August 2024. Following the investigation of the police at the time, Hammed Akanbi, a businessman, was declared wanted, arrested by INTERPOL in Benin Republic in April, and repatriated to Nigeria to face prosecution.

VDM has publicly challenged the investigation, alleging that Akanbi was wrongly implicated and that Jimoh, who was the Commissioner of Police in Lagos at the time the investigation occurred, manipulated evidence to portray Akanbi as the mastermind of the k!llings. He has also challenged Jimoh to produce the original statements of certain suspects, arguing that they did not initially implicate Akanbi.

In the statement released, the Police Force said the criminal case referenced by the activist had already been investigated and filed before a court of competent jurisdiction and will allow the court to decide the matter and will not debate it on social media.

The police invited VDM to provide evidence to support the claims he has made publicly concerning the case. The Police say every allegation will be investigated, no matter who is involved, but it must follow the proper legal process.

Read the police statement below

‘’The Nigeria Police Force notes recent public statements and social media commentary by Mr. Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), concerning the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2, Lagos, and an ongoing criminal matter. The Force wishes to place the following facts on record and clarify the status of both the judicial and administrative processes involved.

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 (DPP). As the matter is subjudice, 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.

Separately, and in line with its internal accountability mechanisms, the Force confirms that the Assistant Inspector-General, Force Criminal Investigation Department (CID), has invited AIG incharge of Zone 2, AIG Moshood Jimoh for questioning in connection with the allegations raised.

The Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja, on 30th July 2026, formally issued a letter of invitation to Mr. Otse (VeryDarkMan), inviting him to appear at its Abuja office to substantiate the claims he has made in the public domain.

These steps reflect the Force’s standing commitment to investigate all credible allegations of misconduct, regardless of the rank of the officer involved or the public profile of the complainant, through its established channels, including the Force CID, the Force Complaint Response Unit, and, where applicable, the Office of the IGP.

Discipline within the Nigeria Police Force is governed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Police Act 2020, Police Regulations, Force Orders, and other administrative procedures. These frameworks apply uniformly to every officer, at every rank.

The Force affirms the constitutional right of every Nigerian to freedom of expression and to demand accountability from public institutions; constructive criticism remains vital to democratic policing. That said, freedom of expression does not extend to defamation or the amplification of unsubstantiated allegations as a means of compelling disciplinary outcomes outside due process. Allegations must be formally submitted, investigated, and objectively assessed. Any officer found culpable following investigation will face sanctions in accordance with the law. Equally, where allegations are established to be false and calculated to damage the reputation of an officer or the institution, the Force reserves the right to pursue appropriate legal remedies.

The Nigeria Police Force urges Mr. Otse to honour the invitation extended by the Force CID, engage with the ongoing administrative review in good faith, and allow the judicial process governing the separate criminal matter to run its course. Grievances against officers are best resolved through established complaint and oversight mechanisms rather than public campaigns designed to force disciplinary outcomes.

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 Force reaffirms its commitment to professionalism, transparency, and the impartial administration of justice in the discharge of its constitutional mandate.”