By Florencemary Nwabueze

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Olohundare Moshood Jimoh has dismissed attempts to distract him with petitions and media campaigns, insisting that no amount of public pressure will deter him from enforcing the law as he received the Africa Security Watch Award for Outstanding Anti-Crime Policing.

AIG Jimoh made the remarks on Wednesday at the Zone 2 Police Headquarters, Onikan, Lagos, after receiving the 19th Africa Security Watch Award. He dedicated the honour to officers and personnel under the Zone 2 Command, reaffirming his commitment to crime prevention, community policing and lawful enforcement.

The petition, filed by Lagos businessman Alhaji Hammed Tajudeen Akanbi' through his lawyers at A.O. Ajulo & Partners, alleges that AIG Jimoh—then Lagos Commissioner of Police, publicly declared Akanbi wanted on February 19, 2026, without prior invitation or exhausting investigative procedures . It also claims the declaration led to destruction of Akanbi's properties worth billions of naira.

Speaking on the petition filed against him, the AIG said misinformation and rumours surrounding his office would not affect his resolve to discharge his duties.
"It is a thing of joy for us at the Zone 2 Headquarters to receive this award at a time when people are spreading a lot of rumours and outright misinformation about my person and the Office of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police," he said.

He stressed that as a law enforcement officer, he could not publicly comment on matters that were already before the court.
"There are laid-down processes. Where a matter is in court, as a police officer and law enforcement officer, you should not make public comments about such an incident. We have weathered greater storms than this, and we will continue to do so," he stated.

AIG Jimoh maintained that the police would continue to enforce the law without fear or favour.
"Nothing can stop us from enforcing the law. The law of the land must be enforced, no matter who is involved. Whether you are rich or poor, known or unknown, a police officer or a member of any profession, we are all subject to the same law," he said.

He urged the public to allow the judicial process to run its full course instead of rushing to conclusions.
"Where matters are in court, we should allow the judicial process to be exhausted before making judgments. It is unfortunate that some people use freedom of expression to cast aspersions on the integrity of police officers," he added.

The AIG disclosed that petitions relating to the matter had been submitted to the Inspector-General of Police and the Police Service Commission, while a suit had also been instituted against him at the Federal High Court in Abuja. He said he had responded appropriately to all the petitions and court processes.
"Let the judicial process take its course. Let the trial be fully exhausted. Every accused person deserves his day in court. The purpose of investigation is to scientifically establish whether a suspect committed an offence and present that evidence before the court," he said.

Speaking on the award, AIG Jimoh described the recognition as a collective achievement for all officers and men serving under his command. He noted that the award, presented in 2026 in recognition of his emergence as the Most Outstanding Anti-Crime Police Chief in West and Central Africa for 2025 at Banjul, The Gambia, reflected the sacrifices made by police personnel in safeguarding lives and property.
"We don't sleep. Some of us hardly have time to see our families. Many officers sleep in their offices while working tirelessly to ensure the safety and security of everyone," he said.

The AIG also commended the Lagos State Government, security agencies and Lagos residents for the peaceful conduct of the recent local government elections across the state.
According to him, the elections in the 20 local government areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) were conducted without violence.
"No ballot box was snatched, no election official was attacked, and no electorate was molested. Everything went on peacefully, and we ensured security before, during and after the election," he said.

Earlier, the International Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of Africa Security Watch, Mr. Patrick Agbambu, presented the award and certificate to the AIG, describing him as a disciplined, resilient and professional police officer committed to crime prevention and community policing.
"The award was based not only on crime fighting but also on Jimoh's efforts to bring policing closer to the people," Agbambu said.

He explained that the Africa Security Watch Award was established to encourage excellence among security personnel across the continent and motivate them to strengthen efforts towards tackling Africa's security challenges. According to Agbambu, the Africa Security Watch Conference and Awards, established in Nigeria in 2004, has grown into a continental initiative promoting African-led solutions to security issues. Now in its 19th edition, the conference has been hosted in countries including Ghana, South Africa, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.

He added that resolutions from the annual conference are forwarded to regional organizations, including ECOWAS, SADC, ECCAS and the African Union, to support policy formulation on security across the continent.