From court file to social media: How Ajiran suspect’s lawyer allegedly obtained documents now used by VDM

Michael Olumide Alabi

The ongoing trial of Ahmed Tajudeen Akanbi, a declared fugitive and principal suspect in the alleged murders of Sheriff Ishola Salami and Prince Ademola Akinloye, two princes of Ajiran Community in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, has evolved beyond a criminal prosecution into one of Nigeria’s most debated legal cases, drawing intense public interest, social media activism and renewed scrutiny of the country’s criminal justice system.

What began as a homicide investigation has gradually transformed into a fierce battle over public perception, with allegations of leaked investigative documents, claims of compromised investigations, and a growing contest between courtroom proceedings and social media narratives.

The murders of Sheriff Ishola Salami in February 2023 and Prince Ademola Akinloye in August 2024 sent shockwaves through the Ajiran Community near Chevron in Lagos, provoking widespread condemnation from traditional rulers, community leaders, civil society organisations and residents who demanded justice for the slain princes.

Responding to renewed petitions and mounting public pressure, the Inspector-General of Police on January 8, 2026, ordered a comprehensive review of the investigation following a formal petition submitted a day earlier on behalf of the Ojomu Chieftaincy Family.

The renewed investigation, supervised by the then Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, now Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Olohundare Moshood Jimoh, gathered pace with the arrest of Safiu Fatai, popularly known as Fabo, on January 24, 2026, followed by Yusuf Ismaila, also known as Bariga, on February 6.

On February 20, 2026, the Lagos State Police Command declared Ahmed Tajudeen Akanbi wanted after investigators alleged that he had fled Nigeria. Following months of intelligence gathering and international collaboration, INTERPOL operatives arrested him in Cotonou, Republic of Benin, on April 15, 2026, before returning him to Nigeria to face prosecution.

Initially regarded as a straightforward homicide prosecution, the matter has since generated protests, legal disputes, allegations of judicial interference and sustained attacks on the credibility of the police investigation.

Available records indicate that investigators followed established legal procedures throughout the investigation. Police obtained judicial authorisation before declaring the principal suspect wanted, collaborated with INTERPOL to facilitate his arrest abroad and subsequently transferred the investigation to the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) after completing the case file.

Legal experts note that once investigative files are forwarded to the DPP for legal advice and prosecution, portions of those records become accessible to authorised legal practitioners and parties through lawful judicial processes.

This legal position has become particularly significant following recent allegations concerning the circulation of sensitive investigative documents that later surfaced on social media.

According to sources familiar with the matter, after investigators at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, completed a supplementary investigation and forwarded the updated case file to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, counsel to the principal suspect, Mr. Adedotun Ajulo, allegedly submitted a written request seeking Certified True Copies (CTCs) of the investigation file, including documents relating to his client’s properties and exhibits recovered during the investigation.

The request was reportedly declined by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State CID, Dayo Akinbisehin, who referred the lawyer to the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Mr. Fatai Tijani. Police sources further claimed that the Commissioner also declined the request.

However, despite those alleged refusals, the defence lawyer subsequently filed a bail application before the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, reportedly attaching copies of documents similar to those earlier requested from the police.

Investigators familiar with the matter allege that the documents may have been obtained through lawful court processes after an application was made to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, where copies of the case file had already been deposited for prosecution purposes.

The alleged development has generated fresh debate over whether the same court documents eventually found their way into the public domain and became part of materials relied upon by social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), in his sustained criticism of the police investigation and Nigeria’s criminal justice system.

Neither the defence lawyer nor the Directorate of Public Prosecutions has publicly commented on the allegation.
Meanwhile, controversy surrounding the case intensified after Akanbi reportedly developed serious health complications while in police custody.

The medical situation triggered widespread speculation across social media, where several commentators alleged that the investigation had been compromised and accused senior police officers of attempting to shield the suspect.

VeryDarkMan emerged as one of the most vocal critics, repeatedly questioning the integrity of the investigation and alleging misconduct by investigators.

As the online campaign gained traction, attention increasingly shifted away from the victims of the alleged murders, with much of the public discourse focusing instead on the treatment of the principal suspect.

Official investigation records, however, present a different account.
Investigators reportedly assembled eyewitness testimonies, confessional statements from arrested suspects, forensic evidence and other corroborative materials allegedly linking key individuals to the planning and execution of the killings.

Court documents also indicate that judicial orders authorising Akanbi’s arrest had been secured from both the Magistrate Court in Ikeja and the Federal High Court before INTERPOL executed the international arrest operation in the Republic of Benin.

Police further displayed exhibits allegedly recovered from the suspect, including a 2017 Lexus LX570 Sport Utility Vehicle, an international passport and two mobile phones.

Questions have also continued over Akanbi’s continued stay in police custody despite an earlier court directive remanding him in a correctional facility.

Court proceedings indicate that after his medical condition reportedly deteriorated, the trial court subsequently ordered that he remain under police custody while receiving treatment at a federal medical facility until certified medically fit to continue standing trial.

Legal practitioners observe that such custody arrangements are entirely within judicial discretion and become binding on law enforcement agencies once issued by the court.

They further note that granting medical treatment to a defendant neither extinguishes criminal liability nor interrupts ongoing prosecution.

The substantive hearing in the case is expected to resume in November.
Civil society organisations have equally weighed in on the controversy.
Following independent reviews of available records, the Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR) and the South West Youth Alliance (SWYA) rejected allegations that investigators manipulated evidence or removed statements from the investigation file.

The organisations maintained that available records did not support claims that statements made by arrested suspects Safiu Fatai and Yusuf Ismaila disappeared from the file or that Akanbi was declared wanted without judicial approval.

They further stated that multiple witness statements, including that of the widow of one of the deceased victims, formed part of the investigation.

According to SWYA, its findings indicate that investigators obtained statements from key suspects before Akanbi’s eventual arrest, arguing that misinformation surrounding the investigation risks undermining public confidence in the administration of justice.

Both organisations urged Nigerians to allow the courts to determine the matter strictly on the basis of admissible evidence rather than public sentiment or social media campaigns.

As proceedings continue before the Lagos State High Court, the Ajiran double murder trial has become a defining example of the increasing collision between criminal justice administration and digital activism.

While public scrutiny remains an important safeguard against abuse, legal observers insist that the guilt or innocence of the accused can only be determined by the courts through due process, credible evidence and compliance with the rule of law—not by competing narratives on social media.