Ojomu Royal Family Petitions Lagos Police Commissioner Over Unsubstantiated Murder Allegations
The Youth Forum of the Ojomu Royal Family of Ajiran Town in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State has formally petitioned the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, regarding unsubstantiated murder accusations leveled against community member Hammed Tajudeen. The petition, submitted through legal counsel, condemns what it describes as a "media trial" approach by the police command.
Police Accused of Making Allegations Without Proper Investigation
Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, the Forum's counsel, Adedotun Ajulo, Esq., stated that the Lagos State Police Command cannot legally embark on a media trial in an alleged murder case. The Forum asserts that police accused Tajudeen of sponsoring multiple murders without conducting proper investigations or extending any invitation for questioning.
The legal team emphasized: "At no time did he refuse or fail to honour any police invitation. At no time was any warrant of arrest issued against him by a court of competent jurisdiction. At no time was any judicial authorisation or order obtained to declare him wanted."
Despite these circumstances, on February 20, 2026, Commissioner of Police Moshood Jimoh convened a press briefing during which the full image of Alhaji Hammed Tajudeen was displayed, and he was publicly accused of sponsoring multiple murders. The Forum contends this unilateral declaration exposed Tajudeen to public odium, ridicule, and severe reputational harm without due process.
How Police Accusation Fueled Community Tension
The Forum added that following the police commissioner's press briefing, hoodlums allegedly sponsored by opposing parties seized upon the heightened tension to vandalize and destroy properties belonging to Tajudeen and other identifiable members of the youth wing perceived to be aligned with him.
"These coordinated attacks further underscore the dangerous consequences of deploying the machinery of law enforcement in a manner that inflames communal hostilities rather than preserving public order," the legal team stated.
Subsequently, there has been an overwhelming and intimidating presence of both military personnel and policemen within the community, a development that has served only to further harass, threaten, and denigrate community members. Meanwhile, opposing parties continue to enjoy open protection, enabling them to persist in unchecked activities without resistance or accountability.
Legal Team Outlines Proper Police Procedure
The legal team further argued that the police acted illegally in declaring Tajudeen wanted, citing the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, particularly Section 41, which regulates the circumstances under which a citizen may be declared wanted.
"The law is settled," they stated. "These conditions were not met in this case. Furthermore, the courts have held that the publication of a wanted notice without lawful authority is unconstitutional, illegal, and liable to be set aside."
The team emphasized that their clients are not opposed to lawful investigation, having consistently cooperated with law enforcement agencies in the past and previously been exonerated after investigations. What they strongly oppose is indictment without investigation, trial by media, intimidation, and the use of police machinery to settle private disputes or advance personal interests.
Reliefs Sought by the Ojomu Royal Family
The legal team noted that issues concerning the Ojomu Royal Family long predate the tenure of the current commissioner of police, adding that his predecessors never conducted themselves in a manner suggestive of bias, compromise, or improper influence.
Among the reliefs sought in their petition are:
- The constitution of a special, neutral, and professionally competent investigative team to review the allegations
- The prosecution of any persons found to have made false, malicious, or fabricated claims
- A public retraction of the unlawful declaration portraying Alhaji Hammed Tajudeen as a murderer
"Our Client reiterates his readiness to make himself available for investigation, provided such inquiry is conducted without bias, compromise, or the procedural irregularities presently characterising the handling of this matter and definitely not by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police," the legal team affirmed.
They expressed trust that appropriate authorities will urgently intervene to restore confidence in due process, uphold the rule of law, and ensure that policing in Lagos State remains professional, impartial, and accountable.
The legal team concluded that the conduct of the Commissioner raises serious questions about whether the machinery of the state is being deployed to settle personal or communal scores rather than to uphold law and order. In a democratic society governed by the rule of law, no public officer is permitted to wield statutory powers in a manner that constitutes a media trial or exposes citizens to unwarranted public opprobrium.
