The family of Hammed Akanbi Tajudeen has submitted a petition to the Inspector General of Police seeking an independent investigation into the roles allegedly played by Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Jimoh Moshood, Hon. Prince Babajide Akinloye and Aare Bashir Fakorede in connection with the investigations into the deaths of Sheriff Ishola Salami and Prince Ademola Akinloye.
The petition, written by Damian N. Ukpa, Esq., through Ikechukwu Godswill, Esq., on behalf of their client, called for a comprehensive and impartial probe into allegations of criminal conspiracy, false accusation, obstruction of justice, and possible complicity in the investigations surrounding the two killings.
According to the petition, Waheed Fadipe,, who is identified as the Head of the Eejo Family, one of the ruling houses within the Ojomu Royal Family in Ajiran Community, Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, raised concerns over the manner in which the investigations into the murders were conducted.
The petition stated that long-running disagreements over the management and sale of community lands had created divisions within the Ojomu Royal Family, adding that Alhaji Hammed Tajudeen Akanbi, a youth leader within the family, had consistently advocated transparency and accountability in the management of communal assets.
It alleged that following the deaths of Sheriff Ishola Salami in 2023 and Prince Ademola Akinloye in 2024, Akanbi became the focus of police investigations and was publicly accused of masterminding both killings despite what the petition described as the absence of credible evidence linking him to the crimes.
The lawyers further stated that Akanbi, who was reportedly outside Nigeria receiving medical treatment during part of the investigation, was declared wanted while AIG Jimoh served as Commissioner of Police in Lagos State.
According to the petition, Akanbi was arrested upon his return to Nigeria in April 2026, publicly paraded before the media and is currently standing trial before the Lagos State High Court over the death of Sheriff Ishola Salami.
The petition questioned why the eventual criminal charge filed against Akanbi related only to the death of Salami despite earlier public allegations linking him to both murders.
It also alleged that requests by the defence team for certified copies of investigation reports and witness statements were denied, while materials said to be from the police investigation later appeared on social media.
The petition further referred to videos and documents circulated online by Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, which suggested that two suspects, identified as "Fabo" and "Bariga," initially confessed to responsibility for Salami's death before later implicating Akanbi.
It also alleged that subsequent video statements by the same suspects claimed they had been subjected to torture and coercion to implicate him by the police in the presence of Aare Bashir Fakorede, who insisted that they must implicate Akanbi. The suspects claimed that Fakorede was the one who insisted that they must change their statements.
The petition also referenced publicly available materials and online publications alleging that Hon. Prince Babajide Akinloye had been among the last persons to communicate with Prince Ademola Akinloye before his death. It further alleged that documents in the public domain raised questions about the release of the deceased's remains without an autopsy, the release of his mobile phone before forensic examination, and the subsequent sale of property associated with the deceased.
In addition, the petition called for an investigation into allegations that another detainee identified as David died in police custody during the same investigative period.
Fadipe, through his solicitors, argued that the cumulative circumstances warranted an independent review to determine whether investigative processes were improperly influenced, whether evidence was obtained through coercion, and whether relevant investigative leads were overlooked.
Among other requests, the petition urged the authorities to investigate allegations of torture, examine the handling of forensic evidence, determine how confidential police documents entered the public domain, subject electronic evidence to independent forensic analysis, and prosecute anyone found culpable of criminal conspiracy, obstruction of justice, false accusation, torture, aiding and abetting murder, or any other offence disclosed by the investigation.
The petitioner said he is willing to cooperate with investigators and provide any materials in his possession that may assist an independent inquiry.
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