By Uloma Peace Okorie
A socio-cultural organisation, the South West Youth Alliance (SWYA), has rallied behind Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Moshood Olohundare Jimoh, calling for an end to what it described as a sustained smear campaign against the senior police officer.
The group warned against the growing trend of using social media to make allegations without evidence, insisting that no individual should be condemned outside the judicial process.
Speaking in a statement issued by its Publicity Director, Adenike Ajanlekoko, the Alliance urged social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VDM, to back his claims with credible evidence by identifying the police officers he alleged contacted him over AIG Jimoh or pursuing the matter through the appropriate legal channels.
According to the organisation, allegations of such magnitude should be handled with responsibility and subjected to judicial scrutiny rather than public opinion, noting that the courts remain the proper avenue for resolving disputes and determining guilt or innocence.
The Alliance argued that making unverified accusations capable of damaging the reputation of public officials without proof undermines public confidence in institutions and erodes the principles of justice and fairness.
It maintained that AIG Jimoh, whose career has been defined by years of public service, should not be subjected to what it termed “trial by social media,” stressing that every citizen is entitled to the constitutional presumption of innocence until proven otherwise.
The group also dismissed claims that officers of the Nigeria Police Force approached VDM to influence public perception on the matter, describing the allegation as lacking credibility and challenging the activist to disclose the identities of those allegedly involved if his claims were genuine.
Reaffirming its confidence in AIG Jimoh’s integrity, SWYA said it has no objection to any impartial investigation conducted in line with the law, provided the process is free from sensationalism and external pressure.
The Alliance urged Nigerians to remain guided by facts, respect ongoing legal processes and refrain from spreading unverified information capable of tarnishing reputations, insisting that justice can only be served through due process and not through social media campaigns.