The Nigeria Police Force has reaffirmed its commitment to due process and institutional discipline amid public allegations by social media commentator Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, involving the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2, Lagos.
In a statement issued Tuesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, the Force said the criminal matter referenced by Otse has been investigated and is now before a court of competent jurisdiction following legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
“As the matter is subjudice, its adjudication 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.
The police disclosed two parallel administrative steps. According to the statement, the Assistant Inspector-General, Force Criminal Investigation Department has invited AIG Moshood Jimoh, who heads Zone 2, Lagos, for questioning in connection with the allegations raised.
Separately, the Force CID in Abuja said it formally issued a letter of invitation to Otse on July 30, 2026, asking him to appear at its Abuja office to “substantiate the claims he has made in the public domain.”
The Force said the actions reflect its policy of investigating all credible allegations of misconduct “regardless of the rank of the officer involved or the public profile of the complainant” through established channels including the Force CID, the Force Complaint Response Unit, and the Office of the Inspector-General of Police.
Addressing standards of conduct, the police noted that discipline is governed by the 1999 Constitution, the Police Act 2020, Police Regulations, and Force Orders, which “apply uniformly to every officer, at every rank.”
While acknowledging Nigerians’ constitutional right to freedom of expression and to demand accountability, the statement cautioned that the right “does not extend to defamation or the amplification of unsubstantiated allegations as a means of compelling disciplinary outcomes outside due process.”
“Allegations must be formally submitted, investigated, and objectively assessed. Any officer found culpable following investigation will face sanctions in accordance with the law. Equally, where allegations are established to be false and calculated to damage the reputation of an officer or the institution, the Force reserves the right to pursue appropriate legal remedies,” CSP Iniedu said.
The police urged Otse to honour the CID invitation and to “engage with the ongoing administrative review in good faith,” while allowing the separate criminal matter before the court to run its course.
“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 concluded.
