Civil society coalition backs police on AIG Jimoh Moshood, demands due process in Ajiran murder case

The Coalition of Civil Rights Organizations for Good Governance has thrown its weight behind the recent position of the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters on the controversy surrounding the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2, Moshood Olohundare Jimoh describing the Force’s response as a demonstration of its commitment to professionalism and the rule of law.

In a press statement jointly signed by, Comrade Olufemi Lawson, and Chief Declan Ihekaire, the group commended the Police High Command for refusing to allow “non-state actors” to usurp the constitutional responsibilities of law enforcement agencies and the judiciary under the guise of social media activism.

The coalition stated that while public scrutiny of government institutions remains an essential component of democracy, criminal investigations and judicial proceedings must not be reduced to content creations, orchestrated through online campaigns.

According to the statement, AIG Jimoh Moshood, like every other public official, deserves the constitutional right to defend himself against allegations levelled against him through the appropriate investigative and judicial processes.

“We commend the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters under the leadership of Inspector-General of Police Mr Rilwan Disu for demonstrating institutional maturity by refusing to surrender the nation’s criminal justice process to the court of social media. Law enforcement must remain the responsibility of constitutionally recognised institutions and not individuals seeking to influence public opinion through sensational online campaigns,” the statement read.

The coalition specifically challenged social media content creator,self acclaimed activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, to publicly provide verifiable evidence supporting the allegations he has made against the police authorities and AIG Jimoh Moshood in connection with the prosecution of Tajudeen Akanbi over the alleged killing of victims in the Ajiran community.

According to the group, anyone making serious allegations against law enforcement officials has a civic obligation to disclose the authentic source of every official document, correspondence and confidential information being circulated on social media in order to establish their credibility and ensure accountability.

The coalition further insisted that if the content creator, genuinely possesses evidence capable of proving misconduct by police officers, such materials should be submitted before the appropriate investigative authorities and the court handling the matter rather than being selectively deployed on social media.

The statement also expressed concern over what it described as the continued circulation of confidential investigative materials relating to the ongoing trial, warning that such practices could compromise the integrity of criminal proceedings.

The coalition therefore called on the Nigeria Police Force to conduct a comprehensive internal investigation into the source of the leaked official documents and identify every officer or individual responsible for the unauthorised disclosure of sensitive case materials.

“It is not sufficient to merely condemn the leakage of confidential investigative records. Every person found to have facilitated or participated in the unlawful release of official police documents relating to this case should be identified, investigated and recommended for appropriate disciplinary sanctions in accordance with the law. The integrity of criminal investigations depends largely on the ability of security agencies to safeguard official information,” the statement added.

The organisation maintained that the ongoing prosecution of Tajudeen Akanbi over the alleged Ajiran killings should be determined strictly on the basis of admissible evidence presented before a competent court, without intimidation, rented crowd, media pressure or attempts to manipulate public sentiment.

While reaffirming its commitment to transparency, accountability and justice, the coalition urged all stakeholders to allow the police, relevant oversight authorities and the courts to discharge their constitutional responsibilities without interference from coordinated media campaigns.

The statement concluded that protecting the integrity of Nigeria’s justice system requires equal respect for the rights of victims, suspects, law enforcement officers and every other party involved in criminal proceedings.