The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has defended its handling of allegations 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, insisting that the matter will be resolved through due process and not public opinion.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, said the criminal case referenced by VeryDarkMan had already been investigated and charged to court following legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
The police stressed that because the matter is now before a court of competent jurisdiction, its outcome rests solely with the judiciary and should not be influenced by social media campaigns or public commentary.
“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 said.
Despite the ongoing court proceedings, the police disclosed that the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) had invited AIG Moshood Jimoh for questioning over the allegations made against him.
The Force also confirmed that the Force CID in Abuja issued a formal invitation to VeryDarkMan on July 30, 2026, requesting that he appear before investigators to provide evidence supporting the allegations he made publicly.
According to the statement, the decision to invite both parties reflects the Force’s commitment to investigating credible allegations of misconduct regardless of the rank of the officer involved or the status of the complainant.
The police further noted that disciplinary actions within the Force are governed by the 1999 Constitution, the Police Act 2020, Police Regulations, Force Orders and other established administrative procedures.
While acknowledging Nigerians’ constitutional right to freedom of expression and criticism of public institutions, the Force warned against making unverified allegations capable of damaging reputations. It added that any officer found guilty after investigation would face appropriate sanctions, while false and defamatory allegations could also attract legal consequences.
The police urged VeryDarkMan to honour the invitation from the Force CID and allow both the administrative investigation and ongoing judicial process to proceed without interference, reiterating that no officer is above the law and that the Force remains committed to professionalism, transparency and accountability.
