IN DEFENCE OF AIG OLOHUNDARE JIMOH: A RECORD OF DISTINGUISHED SERVICE, INTEGRITY AND PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE DESERVES JUSTICE, NOT PREJUDGMENT
Presumption of Innocence Must Prevail: Why AIG Olohundare Jimoh Deserves Due Process, Not Public Convict
In every democracy governed by the rule of law, accusations are not convictions, and allegations are not evidence. The true test of justice is not whether a person is popular or unpopular, powerful or powerless, but whether he is afforded the constitutional guarantees that the law provides.
This is why the ongoing fundamental rights suit involving Assistant Inspector-General of Police Olohundare Jimoh Moshood must be viewed through the lens of due process rather than the passions of public activism.
The Federal Republic of Nigeria is founded upon Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution which clearly states that every person charged with a criminal offence shall be presumed innocent until proven guilty. This principle is not suspended because the accused is a senior police officer, nor is it diminished because accusations have attracted public sympathy.
As the great jurist William Blackstone famously observed, “It is better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer.”
That principle remains one of the pillars of modern justice systems from Britain to the United States and Canada.
The current proceedings before the Federal High Court are still at a preliminary stage. Indeed, the granting of substituted service by Justice Ogazi was not a finding of liability, guilt or culpability. It was merely a procedural ruling designed to ensure that the matter proceeds. To interpret such a procedural order as proof of wrongdoing would amount to prejudging the case before evidence has been tested.
The allegation that the AIG deliberately evaded service remains precisely that—an allegation. It is noteworthy that legal representation reportedly appeared in court on his behalf, demonstrating that the matter is already before competent judicial authorities where the issues can be properly ventilated.
Across democratic nations, courts consistently distinguish between allegations and findings. In the United States, police officers accused of misconduct are entitled to investigations and judicial hearings. In Britain, officers under scrutiny by the Independent Office for Police Conduct retain their legal rights until due process is concluded. South Africa similarly insists that accusations against members of the security services be resolved through established legal mechanisms rather than media trials.
Former United States President Abraham Lincoln once warned that respect for the law should become “the political religion of the nation.” That respect demands restraint from all parties.
No individual should be denied justice, but neither should anyone be convicted in the court of public opinion.
If the allegations made by Comrade Taiwo Hassan Soweto are substantiated by evidence, the law provides remedies. If they are not, the law equally provides protection for those wrongly accused. That is how civilized societies function.
It is equally important to acknowledge the distinguished record of AIG Olohundare Jimoh. Throughout his career, he has held numerous operational responsibilities and currently heads Zone 2 Police Command, one of Nigeria’s most sensitive policing jurisdictions. His professional achievements and years of service cannot be erased by allegations yet to be tested in court.
Former South African President Nelson Mandela aptly remarked that “A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.” Justice requires both—compassion for complainants and fairness to those accused.
The battle against police brutality is legitimate and necessary. Equally legitimate is the protection of officers from trial by media. These two principles are not contradictory. They are complementary foundations of the rule of law.
The credibility of any justice system is measured not by how quickly it condemns, but by how carefully it examines evidence.
As this case progresses toward October 28, 2026, Nigerians should resist the temptation to substitute activism for adjudication or emotions for evidence. Courts exist precisely because justice cannot be determined by headlines, social media campaigns or public sentiment.
Strong institutions are built not by the presumption of guilt, but by the supremacy of law.
And until a competent court reaches its verdict after hearing all sides, AIG Olohundare Jimoh Moshood, like every Nigerian citizen, remains entitled to the full protection of the Constitution.
In the end, justice is not served when one side wins the narrative. Justice is served when truth, tested by evidence and guided by law, prevails over passion.
Dr. Imran Khazaly
Headlinenews.news Special investigative Desk.\
