The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed that it is investigating the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Command, AIG Moshood Jimoh, following corruption allegations made against him by social media personality Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan.
The Force said Jimoh had been invited for questioning as part of an internal administrative review of the allegations, while the criminal case linked to the matter is already before a court.
The police also disclosed that Otse had been invited to appear before the Force Criminal Investigation Department, FCID, in Abuja to provide evidence and substantiate the claims he has made publicly.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu.
The police said the matter involved two separate processes: a criminal case before a court and an internal administrative review of the allegations against the senior police officer.
“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 statement said.
The Force explained that the criminal matter being discussed by Otse had already been investigated and taken before a court of competent jurisdiction after receiving advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, DPP.
It said the case was therefore sub judice, meaning that it was now before the court and should not be determined through public debate or media campaigns.
“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 police said.
The Force warned that it would not allow the case to be tried through social media or other public platforms.
It also said public statements should not be used to influence the outcome of the court proceedings or prejudge the officers and other parties involved.
However, the police made it clear that the allegations against AIG Jimoh were being handled separately through its internal accountability system.
According to the Force, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department had invited Jimoh for questioning over the allegations raised by Otse.
“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 in charge of Zone 2, AIG Moshood Jimoh, for questioning in connection with the allegations raised,” it said.
The Force also disclosed that Otse was formally invited by the FCID in Abuja on July 30, 2026, to provide evidence in support of his claims.
The invitation is expected to give the social media personality an opportunity to present documents, statements or other evidence that could assist the police in examining the allegations.
“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,” the statement said.
For several weeks, Otse has used his social media platforms to make allegations against Jimoh, who previously served as Commissioner of Police in Lagos State.
Among his major claims is that police officers under Jimoh’s supervision allegedly framed businessman Ahmed Tajudeen Akanbi in connection with the killings of Sheriff Ishola Salami in April 2023 and Demola, also known as Prince Ademola Akinloye, in August 2024.
The incidents were reportedly linked to the Ajiran area of Eti-Osa, Lagos.
Otse also alleged that two suspects arrested in January 2026 initially made confessions or video statements admitting involvement in the killing of Salami without mentioning Akanbi.
He claimed that later statements implicating Akanbi were obtained after the suspects were allegedly subjected to pressure or torture.
The allegations have been strongly pushed by Otse through a series of videos in which he has repeatedly challenged Jimoh to produce the original statements of the suspects involved in the case.
He has also called for an independent review of the evidence surrounding the matter.
The police did not determine the truth or otherwise of the allegations in its statement but said its decision to investigate showed that complaints against officers would be examined regardless of their rank.
The Force said its accountability process includes the FCID, the Force Complaint Response Unit and, where necessary, the Office of the Inspector-General of Police.
“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,” the statement said.
The development comes amid wider calls for greater accountability within the Nigerian Police Force, particularly over allegations of misconduct, abuse of power and human rights violations.
The police have in recent years faced public criticism over the conduct of some officers, while the authorities have repeatedly promised to strengthen internal disciplinary mechanisms and improve relations between the police and members of the public.
The Force said disciplinary matters involving its personnel are governed by the Constitution, the Police Act 2020, Police Regulations, Force Orders and other established administrative procedures.
It also acknowledged the right of Nigerians to criticise public institutions and demand accountability.
“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,” it said.
However, the police warned that freedom of expression did not permit people to make defamatory or unsubstantiated claims against individuals.
“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,” the Force said.
The police added that any officer found guilty of misconduct after investigation would face appropriate sanctions under the law.
At the same time, it warned that people who deliberately make false allegations with the intention of damaging the reputation of police officers or the institution could also face legal action.
The warning reflects the police position that both officers and members of the public must be subjected to the law and due process.
The Force urged Otse to honour the invitation issued by the FCID and present evidence to support his claims rather than relying solely on social media publications.
It also called on all parties to allow the administrative investigation and the court proceedings to take their proper course.
The police said the two processes were separate and would be handled according to the relevant laws and regulations.
“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 said.
The investigation will now determine whether the allegations against AIG Jimoh have merit and whether any police officer involved in the matter breached the law or police regulations.
The court, meanwhile, will continue to determine the criminal matter already before it.
The latest development is expected to keep attention on the allegations made by Otse, the conduct of the police officers involved in the earlier investigation and the ability of the police to investigate one of its senior officers transparently.
For now, the police have maintained that neither the rank of the officer involved nor the public profile of the complainant will prevent credible allegations from being examined through established procedures.