Official police documents appear to refute claims of corruption made against Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Olohundare Moshood Jimoh regarding his handling of a high-profile murder investigation in Ajiran.
The allegations were prominently voiced by social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), who accused the AIG of being “extremely corrupt” and a “threat to the justice system.” Otse challenged the AIG, who heads Zone 2 in Lagos, to sue for defamation if the claims were untrue.
VDM, without providing documentary proof, had blamed AIG Jimoh for the supposed disappearance of initial statements from two suspects, identified as Fabo and Bariga, connected to the murder of two Ajiran princes.
However, an investigation into the matter suggests a coordinated effort to discredit AIG Jimoh, who reportedly pursued the case despite pressure from influential figures to drop it.
Sources indicate that a campaign involving influencers and media personalities was launched to spread a false narrative and sway public opinion.
A detailed memo dated April 22, signed by AIG Jimoh and addressed to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), provides a clear timeline of his involvement.
The document was a response to a separate petition from A.O. Ajulo & Partners, the legal team for murder suspect Hammed Tajudeen Akanbi, who also accused Jimoh of bias and abuse of office.
Critics alleged that Jimoh revived a previously “resolved” case for personal gain. However, the memo clarifies that the investigation was reopened following a direct order from the IGP.
The directive came after Chief Rotimi Williams’ Chambers, representing the Ojomu Chieftaincy Family of Ajiran, petitioned the IGP on January 7, 2026, stating that the murders of Prince Ademola Akinloye and Sheriff Ishola Salami were still unresolved.
The IGP’s order was then relayed to Jimoh, who was the Lagos State Commissioner of Police at the time.
Akanbi’s lawyers claimed he was implicated solely due to a land dispute. The police case file tells a different story.
It includes statements from five witnesses, including the victim’s widow, who recounted seeing her husband shot and attacked with a machete. Furthermore, two arrested suspects, Shafi Fatai (Fabo) and Yusuf Ismaila (Bariga), allegedly confessed separately that Akanbi had ordered and financed the killings, paying them sums of N2 million and N3 million.
Another claim suggests police manufactured Akanbi’s connection to the crime. The memo references a community witness who informed police about a recorded phone call.
In the alleged recording, Akanbi pleaded for help in securing the release of the two suspects and having the murder charges dropped in exchange for relinquishing disputed community land.
Akanbi’s counsel argued that he was declared wanted without proper judicial authority. Court records attached to the memo show two separate court orders. The first, from a Magistrate Court in Ogba on February 16, 2026, granted police permission to arrest and remand Akanbi.
The second, a Federal High Court order from April 10, 2026, mandated the issuance of an arrest warrant to ensure his appearance for investigation into “conspiracy and murder.”
While the initial magistrate’s order was later set aside on a technicality, the subsequent Federal High Court order remained valid and in force at the time of his arrest.
The memo explicitly denies any personal contact between AIG Jimoh and Akanbi after the suspect’s arrest by INTERPOL in Benin on April 15. It states that Akanbi was transferred to INTERPOL Nigeria and held at SCID Panti before being formally handed over to AIG Zone 2 for further processing.
A civil society organisation has commended the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) for his role in the investigation of the Ajiran murders, while also flagging potential misconduct by officers involved in the ongoing court case.
The Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR) praised AIG Jimoh in a formal letter, highlighting his “professionalism, diligence, and strategic leadership” during his time as Commissioner of Police for Lagos State. The group, led by its president, Comrade Alex Omotehinse, credited Jimoh’s actions with restoring public faith in the police force.
Specifically, the CHSR pointed to the successful arrest of a key suspect, Akanbi, and others, as well as the thorough investigation that led to their arraignment.
Jimoh detailed his involvement, which included coordinating with the Assistant Inspector-General of Police for Interpol in Abuja and the Commissioner of Police for Interpol in Lagos to facilitate Akanbi’s repatriation.
Despite the praise, the rights group expressed serious concerns about the behaviour of certain operatives from the Delta Force Unit at SCID Panti, Lagos. The CHSR alleged that these officers have demonstrated bias in favour of the accused during court proceedings.
The organisation urged AIG Jimoh’s office to intervene, ensuring that all officers maintain strict professionalism and neutrality to protect the integrity of the judicial process. The case against Akanbi and his co-accused, Fatai and Ismaila, is still before the courts.
