Ajiran Murder Case: VeryDarkMan accuses AIG Moshood of framing businessman

A heated controversy has erupted over the investigation into the murder of a man in the Ajiran community, Lekki area of Lagos, following allegations by social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), that police authorities attempted to implicate businessman Hammed Akanbi Tajudeen in the crime through alleged coercion of suspects.

VeryDarkMan, in a series of online broadcasts, accused the former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Jimoh Moshood, of overseeing an investigation in which detained suspects were allegedly pressured to make statements linking Tajudeen to the killing.

The activist alleged that some suspects in custody were intimidated into claiming that Tajudeen financed the murder, describing the development as an attempt to destroy the businessman’s reputation and subject him to public condemnation before the conclusion of any judicial process.

The controversy follows a violent incident linked to tensions within the Ajiran/Ojomu communities in Lekki, Lagos, which reportedly involved disputes over land and community interests.

Following investigations into the incident, the police declared Tajudeen wanted in February 2026 over alleged involvement in the murder. He was later arrested by INTERPOL in the Benin Republic in April 2026 and subsequently returned to face investigation.

His legal team has consistently denied the allegations, arguing that the businessman was targeted without sufficient evidence and that the police failed to follow due process before declaring him wanted.

Tajudeen’s lawyer, Adedotun Ajulo, has accused some police officials of turning the case into a media trial, particularly after his client was publicly displayed in handcuffs and leg restraints.

Ajulo argued that criminal investigations should not be influenced by public pressure or media narratives, insisting that his client had been subjected to unnecessary reputational damage before any court determination.

The defence team also claimed that some of the statements allegedly linking Tajudeen to the crime were questionable, arguing that the initial accounts provided by suspects did not independently identify him as the mastermind.

According to the lawyers, concerns over the handling of the investigation prompted the withdrawal of the case file from the office of AIG Moshood and its transfer to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Alagbon, for further review.

However, AIG Jimoh Moshood and his supporters have rejected the allegations of coercion, bias and abuse of office.

Human rights groups and civil society organisations have also rallied behind the senior police officer, criticising VeryDarkMan’s campaign and questioning the basis of his claims.

The groups argued that allegations against law enforcement officers should be supported with verifiable evidence rather than social media accusations capable of undermining ongoing criminal investigations.

The dispute has renewed debate over the growing influence of social media activists in criminal investigations and whether online campaigns can complement or interfere with formal justice processes.

While VeryDarkMan and Tajudeen’s legal team maintain that the businessman is the victim of a coordinated attempt to frame him, police authorities insist that the investigation was conducted based on available evidence.

With the matter now before the relevant authorities, the central questions remain whether the allegations against Tajudeen are supported by credible evidence or whether, as his defenders claim, the investigation was influenced by intimidation and manipulation.

The final determination of guilt or innocence will ultimately rest with the courts.