No responsible citizen supports cyberbullying, defamation, harassment, or unlawful attacks against any individual, including police officers. Where anyone believes they have been defamed or harassed, the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provide adequate remedies through the courts and other lawful channels. Those protections are available to every Nigerian, regardless of occupation or status.
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However, asking the Inspector-General of Police to publicly defend an individual officer whose career has, over the years, been associated with several public controversies and petitions is an entirely different matter.
The office of the Inspector-General exists to protect the credibility and integrity of the Nigeria Police Force, not to shield any individual from legitimate public scrutiny or criticism.
Assistant Inspector-General Moshood Jimoh is not a junior officer unfamiliar with the demands of public office. Having joined the Nigeria Police Force in 2000 and served in several high-profile positions, including Force Public Relations Officer and Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, he understands that public office attracts public scrutiny.
Throughout his career, his name has featured in a number of highly publicised controversies. During his tenure as Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, civil society organisations publicly criticised aspects of police operations under his leadership, including the handling of protests and allegations relating to violations of citizens’ rights. Among these was a petition reportedly submitted to the Police Service Commission concerning the arrest and alleged assault of activist Hassan Taiwo (popularly known as Soweto) following a protest in Lagos.
Similarly, Hammed Tajudeen Akanbi petitioned the Police Service Commission alleging abuse of office, unlawful media declarations, and violations of his rights. Regardless of their eventual disposition, those allegations became part of public discourse.
Earlier, while serving as Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Jimoh attracted widespread criticism for rejecting a report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on corruption within the Nigeria Police Force, insisting that the institution was not corrupt. That position generated significant public debate, particularly during a period when allegations against the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) dominated national discourse.
His appearance on a national television programme in 2018, during which he described the then Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, as “a drowning man”, also drew condemnation from lawmakers and sections of the public. The House of Representatives subsequently called for disciplinary action, describing his remarks as inconsistent with the expected neutrality and professionalism of a police spokesperson.
Whether one agrees with these criticisms or not, they form part of the officer’s public record and explain why many Nigerians believe that any call for institutional protection should be carefully distinguished from personal defence.
The Inspector-General of Police cannot reasonably be expected to endorse or dismiss years of public allegations, criticisms, petitions, and controversies without appropriate review through established institutional processes. Doing otherwise could unintentionally create the impression that the leadership of the Force is taking sides in matters that deserve impartial examination.
The Nigeria Police Force is strongest when it demonstrates that no individual is above accountability and that every officer, regardless of rank, remains subject to the same standards of professionalism, discipline, and public responsibility.
Indeed, many Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and senior officers quietly discharge their responsibilities with distinction, earning public respect through diligence, restraint, and professionalism rather than through repeated public controversies. Their examples demonstrate that effective policing does not require constant public disputes but consistent service rooted in integrity.
This principle underscores an enduring truth: public trust is earned not through official endorsements but through consistent conduct.
Police officers who faithfully discharge their constitutional responsibilities have little reason to fear transparency or accountability. The Nigeria Police exists primarily to serve the public, and public confidence is strengthened, not weakened, when concerns are addressed openly, professionally, and within the confines of the law.
Defending the institution of the Nigeria Police Force is unquestionably important. Defending individuals against every criticism, irrespective of their public record, is not.
The distinction matters.
A strong police institution is built on accountability, impartiality, professionalism, and public trust, not on personalities.
Osaze writes from Ebonyi State.
