Security
THE Police Command in Lagos State has denied allegations of shielding a 38-year-old principal suspect in an alleged double murder case.
It insisted that the investigation and all actions taken in the case were conducted with due process and in compliance with court directives.
A credible senior police source told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday that the Inspector-General of Police ordered a comprehensive review of the case on Jan. 8 following a formal petition by the Ojomu Chieftaincy family.
The source said the directive was implemented under the then Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, now Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Mr Olohundare Jimoh.
According to the source, investigators attached to one of the tactical teams at the State Police Headquarters, Ikeja, concluded their investigation and forwarded their recommendations to the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for review.
“Once an investigation report is transmitted to the DPP, authorised persons, including legal representatives, may gain access to aspects of the case through lawful judicial processes,” he said.
The source explained that sensitive information relating to the investigation had, therefore, existed outside police custody before the case file was later transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, for further investigation.
“This is significant because recent allegations suggesting that records were altered or surfaced in the public domain only after the transfer to SCID Panti do not reflect the actual sequence of events,” he said.
The source further alleged that after SCID Panti forwarded its supplementary case file to the DPP, counsel to the principal suspect requested certified true copies of the case file, including documents relating to exhibits and other evidence recovered during the investigation.
According to the source, the request was declined by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of SCID Panti, Mr Dayo Akinbisehin, who referred the lawyer to the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Mr Fatai Tijani.
The source alleged that the commissioner also declined the request.
The source further claimed that the lawyer later filed a bail application before a High Court in Ikeja and attached copies of the same case file after obtaining the documents from the DPP through a court-approved process.
He said this indicated that the documents were accessed through lawful judicial channels and not leaked by the police.
The source also dismissed claims that the suspect was being secretly protected by the police.
“The suspect’s continued stay in police custody followed a court order issued after his health deteriorated while in a Correctional Centre.
“It subsequently directed that he should remain under police supervision while receiving treatment at a federal medical facility until he was medically fit to stand trial.
“Compliance with such judicial directives was mandatory and did not affect the ongoing prosecution,” he said.
The source maintained that the investigation and prosecution had continued in accordance with established legal procedures and that the substantive hearing in the case remained scheduled for November.
NAN reports that the police made the clarification after a coalition of civil society organisations held a news conference in Ikeja on Wednesday, accusing SCID, Panti, of shielding the principal suspect in the deaths of two residents between February 2023 and August 2024 in the Ajiran community, Eti-Osa area of Lagos State.
The Coordinator of the Centre for Advocacy for Credible Leadership, Mr Femi Lawnson, who spoke on behalf of the coalition, also accused the SCID of distorting facts surrounding the killings.
He raised concerns over what he described as unprofessional conduct by some operatives of SCID Panti, alleging bias, interference, and actions that could compromise evidence in the case.
He called on the Inspector-General of Police to investigate the conduct of the officers involved and sanction anyone found culpable.
He added that the police should maintain neutrality and professionalism in handling the case.
He also questioned the alleged non-compliance with court orders directing that the principal suspect be remanded in a Correctional Centre and demanded clarification on the suspect’s custodial status.
Lawnson further alleged that certain individuals and online commentators had embarked on a deliberate campaign to portray the principal suspect as a victim despite his status as the prime suspect in the murder case.
He insisted that justice must be served for the slain victims, stressing that no suspect, regardless of status or influence, should evade accountability.
NAN reports that the investigation gathered momentum after fresh intelligence led to the arrest of two suspects, popularly known as “Fabo” and “Bariga”, between Jan. 24 and Feb. 8, respectively.
Barely two weeks later, on Feb. 20, the Lagos State Police Command declared the 38-year-old principal suspect wanted after the arrested suspects linked him to the killings and he fled the country.
Following months of intelligence gathering and cross-border surveillance, INTERPOL operatives arrested the suspect in Cotonou, Republic of Benin, on April 15 and returned him to Nigeria to face trial.
However, as proceedings progressed from the Chief Magistrate Court in Ogba to the Lagos State High Court, the case became increasingly contentious, with community protests, allegations of judicial interference, and public criticism of the police investigation.
Among the most vocal critics was social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, who accused senior police officers of undermining the investigation and questioned the integrity of the process. (NAN)
A.I
July 16, 2026
Tags: Martins Vincent Otse Mr Dayo Akinbisehin Mr Fatai Tijani. Mr Femi Lawnson SCID Panti VeryDarkMan