By Kelvin Adegbenga
I recently came across a mischievous and ill-conceived article by one Bayo Oluwasanmi, who attempted to label the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Moshood Jimoh, as a “lawless police officer”.
The write-up was nothing but a biased and malicious attack on a fine officer whose record of service, professionalism, and integrity speaks for itself. It is both unfortunate and disappointing that someone who has been outside Nigeria for over 15 years would attempt to distort facts and spread falsehoods about an institution he no longer understands.
Contrary to Oluwasanmi’s misleading claims, CP Moshood Jimoh is never a lawless police officer. He is a disciplined, well-trained, and highly intelligent officer who has consistently upheld the principles of justice and the rule of law.
He is a graduate of the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, and has built a distinguished career in the Nigeria Police Force based on professionalism, diligence, and respect for due process. It is laughable and disrespectful for Oluwasanmi to describe such a man as “illiterate and ignorant”.
Oluwasanmi’s blanket statement that “in Nigeria, police brutality and abuse of power are commonplace” is another gross exaggeration aimed at discrediting the police. While no organisation is perfect, it is not true that the Nigeria Police Force has an “unbroken and unbeatable record of abuse, bribery, false arrest, imprisonment, and killing of innocent citizens.”
Such sweeping generalisations are typical of people who feed on negative narratives rather than facts. The reality is that under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM, the Nigeria Police Force has undergone significant reforms that emphasise professionalism, accountability, and respect for human rights.
It is also untrue that “a large number of Nigerians have disappeared or been murdered by the police.” The role of the police is to protect lives and property, not to harm them. Nigerian police officers put their lives on the line daily to defend citizens from criminals, terrorists, and insurgents.
It is deeply unfair to paint the entire police institution with the brush of a few isolated incidents, especially when disciplinary actions have been taken against erring officers in such cases.
The assertion that the Nigerian police are “known for crime, bribery, and violence” is yet another falsehood. Those adjectives reflect a false narrative crafted by someone whose understanding of the Force is rooted in outdated stereotypes.
The police under IGP Egbetokun have shown renewed commitment to transparency and integrity. Officers are being retrained, technology is being integrated into operations, and citizens’ trust is gradually being rebuilt.
Oluwasanmi’s defence of Omoyele Sowore also betrays a lack of objectivity. He claimed that “Sowore has not committed any crime” and that “no criminal charges have ever been brought against him.” But Mr Oluwasanmi is not a law court, and he has no legal standing to pronounce innocence or guilt.
The fact remains that Sowore was declared wanted by the police for allegedly attempting to cause public disturbance in Lagos State, a legitimate concern in line with police duty to maintain public order. It is also important to note that there was never a time the police beat or jailed Sowore, as Oluwasanmi falsely insinuated.
Yes, Sowore dragged CP Jimoh to court for declaring him wanted, but it is within the constitutional powers of the police to investigate and act upon matters of economic sabotage or threats to public peace.
The police cannot be stopped by any court from carrying out their lawful duties, including investigating activities that may lead to the breakdown of law and order. Declaring Sowore wanted was not an act of lawlessness; it was an act of responsibility.
It is, therefore, baseless for Oluwasanmi to claim that the police “abuse their discretion and exercise their arrest powers against those they disagree with.” CP Moshood Jimoh is not a power-hungry officer; he is a firm believer in the rule of law.
Just like every other citizen, Sowore has no right to block or restrain other Nigerians from using the Third Mainland Bridge in the name of protest. The decision to arrest or declare him wanted was in accordance with the law and not an act of personal vendetta.
In conclusion, CP Moshood Jimoh stands tall as a refined and responsible police officer, contrary to Oluwasanmi’s baseless insinuations. The Nigeria Police Force under IGP Egbetokun has been reformed, reoriented, and professionalised to meet modern standards of law enforcement.
The era of unaccountable policing is over. The Force will never condone lawlessness from anyone, including a former presidential candidate turned emergency activist.
Nigeria deserves truth, not propaganda. And men like CP Moshood Jimoh represent the true image of the modern Nigerian police: disciplined, courageous, and dedicated to service.
Kelvin Adegbenga is the National Coordinator of Integrity Youth Alliance and writes from Ikeja, Lagos, kelvinadegbenga@yahoo.com @kelvinadegenga
The content of “Legal Brief: Genocide in Nigeria” is not fiction. It is a factual reflection of the horrors that many Nigerians, particularly those living in Plateau, Kaduna, and Benue States, have witnessed firsthand.
