Court orders police to apologize to Hammed Tajudeen over Wanted Notice
By Mercy Ajekigbe
The Lagos High Court has ordered the Nigeria Police Force to issue a public apology and retract the “Wanted” notice issued against Hammed Tajudeen Akanbi.
The judgment, delivered on Friday, August 7, 2026, followed a suit filed by Akanbi challenging his declaration as “Wanted” and his identification as a prime suspect in the Ajiran murder case.
The case gained widespread public attention after social media influencer VeryDarkMan took up the matter after Akanbi’s request for a thorough investigation. The influencer subsequently released a series of videos examining the case and presenting evidence he claimed raised questions about the police investigation and circumstances surrounding the declaration of Hammed as “Wanted”
Some of the videos specifically questioned the role of Assistant Inspector General of Police Jimoh Moshood in decisions relating to the case. VeryDarkMan also called for disciplinary action against the police officer.
In its judgement, the court also addressed the procedures followed by the police in issuing the Wanted Notice. The court further restrained the force from publicly portraying Hammed as a criminal suspect in connection to the case.
The judgment also addressed statements made during a press conference concerning allegations against Akanbi. The court reportedly ordered that all media and press releases portraying the applicant as a criminal suspect be taken down in accordance with the court’s order.
Following the development, VeryDarkMan staged a colorful protest outside the police headquarters, requesting the Force and AIG Jimoh Moshood to follow the court’s order and issue a public apology.
