The Police Integrity Movement (PIM) has rejected allegations made by social media influencer Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), over the investigation into the murder of Sheriff Salimi and Prince Ademola in the Ajiran area of Lagos, describing his claims as misleading and lacking credible evidence.
Speaking during a right-of-reply appearance on Arise TV, the group’s Convener, Isaiah Davies Ijele, said it was wrong to suggest that Assistant Inspector-General of Police, AIG Jimoh Moshood, had already concluded that Ahmed Tajudeen and others were responsible for the killings.
According to Ijele, statements made during interviews should not be treated as the final outcome of an ongoing criminal investigation, stressing that only a thorough investigation and the courts can determine responsibility.
He defended AIG Moshood’s role in reopening the case, noting that the murder had remained unresolved for years before fresh efforts were made to investigate it.
Ijele explained that the renewed investigation began after a petition was submitted to the Inspector-General of Police. The petition, he said, was received on January 7, 2026, and immediately forwarded to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police. It was later assigned to AIG Moshood’s office on January 8, leading to fresh investigative steps.
He revealed that the first arrest linked to the case was made on January 26, 2026, just weeks after the petition reached the police authorities.
According to him, this timeline disproves claims that the police acted without proper investigation or simply targeted individuals.
He also said the petition submitted to the IGP contained names, including Fabo and Bariga, which formed part of the information available to investigators before action was taken.
The PIM maintained that the renewed investigation should be viewed within the context of the petition, directives from the police leadership and the evidence gathered by investigators, rather than opinions expressed on social media.
Ijele added that the Inspector-General of Police had commended AIG Moshood for reviving the case and making the first arrest after the investigation had stalled for about three years.
He argued that this demonstrated the police’s commitment to resolving the case and that it was unfair to portray the investigation as politically motivated or lacking due process.
The group also addressed the police invitation sent to VDM, saying the Inspector-General had stated that the invitation was issued without his knowledge. It urged the public not to see the invitation as evidence of harassment, but as part of the investigative process.
Ijele insisted that no one should consider themselves above the law because of fame or influence.
“If you are an advocate of the rule of law, you must also be willing to obey the law,” he said.
He recalled VDM’s past public campaigns demanding accountability in other cases, including the arrest of businessman Blord, arguing that the same principle should apply to everyone.
The PIM further stressed that the Ajiran murder investigation should not be driven by social media narratives or public opinion but by evidence and the judicial process.
According to the group, it is not seeking to declare anyone guilty or innocent but is calling for due process to be allowed to run its course.
The Police Integrity Movement said it remains committed to promoting professionalism, accountability and integrity within the Nigeria Police Force and urged Nigerians to allow investigators and the courts to determine the facts.
It added that the reopening of the case and subsequent arrest marked an important step in resolving a murder investigation that had remained unsolved for years.
