Police reaffirm due process in VeryDarkMan-AIG Jimoh controversy as case goes to court
The Nigeria Police Force has reaffirmed its commitment to due process, institutional discipline and the rule of law amid the controversy involving social media influencer Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, and the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2, Lagos, AIG Moshood Jimoh.
In a statement posted on X on Tuesday, Force Public Relations Officer CSP Ani Iniedu said the criminal matter referenced in recent public comments by VeryDarkMan had already been investigated and was before a court following legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions. Because the case is before a court of competent jurisdiction, its determination rests solely with the judiciary.
The Force stated it would not try the matter in the media or allow public campaigns to shape the outcome. It disclosed that the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department had invited AIG Jimoh for questioning over the allegations. The same department issued a formal invitation to VeryDarkMan on 30 July 2026, asking him to appear and substantiate the claims he made publicly.
The police presented the invitations as evidence of its resolve to examine credible allegations regardless of the rank of the officer or the status of the complainant. Disciplinary processes, it noted, are guided by the Constitution, the Police Act 2020, Police Regulations, Force Orders and related administrative procedures.
While acknowledging the constitutional right to freedom of expression and criticism of public institutions, the Force warned that this right does not extend to defamation or attempts to compel disciplinary action through public pressure. Any officer found culpable after proper investigation would face sanctions according to the law. False allegations intended to damage reputations could also attract legal consequences.
The statement urged VeryDarkMan to honour the invitation and allow both the administrative review and judicial proceedings to run their course. Grievances against officers, it said, are best resolved through established complaint and oversight mechanisms rather than public campaigns designed to force outcomes.
The response underscores a recurring institutional position: public pressure may accelerate attention, but formal accountability follows the established investigative and judicial path. Whether the invitations produce substantive clarification or further contention will depend on the willingness of all parties to engage the process rather than the parallel arena of social media commentary.
