Tekena Amieyeofori
Social media commentator Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, VDM, says he will respond to an invitation from the Nigeria Police Force over allegations he made against AIG Jimoh Moshood, but only if the process is made fully public.
The Force Criminal Investigation Department, FCID, in Abuja had summoned VDM following his online claims about the AIG in charge of Zone 2, Lagos. The invitation comes after the Nigeria Police Force announced an administrative probe into Moshood over the same allegations.
In a statement released on Thursday, August 6, by his lawyers, Deji Adeyanju & Partners, VDM said he has no issue with a lawful investigation and is ready to cooperate. However, the legal team listed three conditions they want met before he appears.
The conditions are the entire interview should be streamed live, his lawyers must be allowed to be present, and representatives of the Nigerian Bar Association must attend the session.
The lawyers argued that because of the public attention the case has drawn and the senior rank of the officer involved, the investigation must be seen to be transparent to maintain public trust.
“Having regard to the considerable public interest generated by this matter, the status of the public official involved, and the need to preserve public confidence in the investigative process, our client respectfully requests that the investigation be conducted in a manner that is transparent, fair and capable of inspiring public confidence,” the statement read.
VDM’s allegations relate to the handling of the murder investigation of businessman Ahmed Tajudeen Akanbi, a high-profile case that has drawn public scrutiny in Lagos. The influencer made the claims in a series of videos and posts, accusing the AIG of misconduct in how the case was managed.
In response, the police confirmed they had launched both an internal administrative inquiry into AIG Moshood and a criminal investigation into the claims made by VDM. Authorities also disclosed that aspects of the matter are already before a court.
Moshood has denied any wrongdoing through official police channels.
This is not the first time VDM has clashed with law enforcement. The 31-year-old influencer built a large following for his advocacy on social justice, fraud exposure, and criticism of public officials. He has been arrested and invited by police multiple times since 2024, often over defamation and cybercrime allegations.
The demand for a live broadcast is unusual in Nigeria. Police interviews are typically conducted behind closed doors, but VDM’s team says the demand is not to obstruct police powers. According to the lawyers, it is to “ensure the investigation commands public confidence because of the significance of the allegations and the office of the public official involved.”
The involvement of the NBA is also significant. The Bar has increasingly pushed for oversight in high-profile interrogations, citing concerns about due process and human rights.
As of Thursday, the police had not publicly responded to VDM’s conditions. It remains unclear whether the FCID will agree to a live-streamed session with lawyers and NBA observers present.
The outcome could set a precedent for how the police handle investigations involving public officials and high-profile critics in the social media era.