The Nigeria Police Force has restated its commitment to due process, institutional discipline and the rule of law following the controversy involving social media influencer Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), and the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2, Lagos, Moshood Jimoh.
In a statement posted on X on Tuesday, the Force Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Police Ani Iniedu, said the criminal matter referenced by VeryDarkMan had been investigated and was already before a court after legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
The Force noted that, with the case now before a court of competent jurisdiction, responsibility for determining the matter rested solely with the judiciary.
It stated that the police would not litigate the case in the media or allow public commentary and campaigns to influence the judicial process.
The police also disclosed that the Assistant Inspector-General in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department had invited AIG Jimoh for questioning over the allegations levelled against him.
According to the statement, the Force Criminal Investigation Department in Abuja had earlier issued a formal invitation to VeryDarkMan on 30 July 2026, requesting that he appear before investigators to provide evidence in support of the allegations he made publicly.
The Force said the invitation underscored its commitment to investigating credible allegations of misconduct regardless of the rank of the officer involved or the status of the complainant.
It added that disciplinary proceedings within the Police are governed by the Constitution, the Police Act 2020, Police Regulations, Force Orders and other established administrative procedures.
While acknowledging the constitutional right of Nigerians to freedom of expression and criticism of public institutions, the police cautioned against making unverified allegations, stressing that such rights do not extend to defamation or attempts to influence disciplinary processes through public pressure.
The Force said any officer found culpable after due investigation would be sanctioned in accordance with the law, while individuals who deliberately make false allegations capable of damaging the reputation of officers or the institution could face legal consequences.
It urged VeryDarkMan to honour the invitation from the Force CID and allow both the administrative investigation and ongoing judicial proceedings to take their course.
Reaffirming its commitment to professionalism, transparency and accountability, the Nigeria Police Force maintained that no officer was above the law and encouraged members of the public to channel complaints through established oversight and disciplinary mechanisms.
