….Says Case Against Activist Now in Court
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
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has confirmed that Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Moshood Jimoh, who oversees Zone 2 in Lagos, has been invited for questioning by the Force Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over allegations of misconduct raised by activist and social commentator Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM).
The development was disclosed in a statement issued Tuesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, following weeks of public commentary from Otse concerning both the senior police officer and a separate criminal case in which the activist is involved.
According to the statement, the criminal matter connected to the controversy has already been investigated by police and, on the advice of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), has been forwarded to a court of competent jurisdiction.
The Force stressed that because the case is now sub judice, its outcome 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,” the statement read.
In a move the Force described as consistent with its internal accountability mechanisms, the statement confirmed that the AIG in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department has summoned AIG Jimoh for questioning over the allegations raised against him.
Separately, police disclosed that the Force CID in Abuja issued a formal letter of invitation to Otse on July 30, 2026, asking him to appear at its Abuja office to substantiate claims he has made publicly.
The Force said such steps reflect its “standing commitment to investigate all credible allegations of misconduct, regardless of the rank of the officer involved or the public profile of the complainant,” noting that complaints can be channelled through the Force CID, the Force Complaint Response Unit, or the Office of the Inspector-General of Police.
The statement noted that internal discipline within the police is governed by the Nigerian Constitution, the Police Act 2020, Police Regulations, Force Orders, and other administrative procedures that apply uniformly across ranks.
While affirming the constitutional right to freedom of expression and to demand institutional accountability, the Force cautioned that this right does not extend to defamation or to using unsubstantiated allegations to pressure disciplinary outcomes outside due process.
It added that any officer found culpable after investigation would face sanctions, while allegations proven false and damaging to an officer’s or the institution’s reputation could attract legal action.
The Force called on Otse to honour the CID’s invitation, cooperate with the ongoing administrative review, and allow the separate judicial process to proceed without interference, arguing that grievances against officers are “best resolved through established complaint and oversight mechanisms rather than public campaigns designed to force disciplinary outcomes.”
The statement closed with the Force reaffirming its commitment to professionalism, transparency and impartial justice, stating: “No officer is above the law, and no genuine complaint is ignored; nor will any officer be sanctioned outside the procedures the law prescribes.” #Securitynewsalert.com
