By Ven. Samson Kunle Popoola, JP
There is a popular saying that “you do not bark back at a dog simply because it is barking at you.” Wisdom teaches that not every accusation deserves a public exchange, and not every provocation requires a response.
The decision of the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Moshood Jimoh Oluhundare, to refrain from engaging in a media war over the Ajiran murder case should not be misconstrued as an admission of guilt. Rather, it demonstrates maturity, discipline, and respect for the rule of law.
The matter is now before a court of competent jurisdiction. Once a case has entered the judicial process, responsible individuals and institutions should allow the courts to perform their constitutional duty without undue media pressure or public sensationalism. Justice is best served in the courtroom—not on social media platforms, television interviews, or through endless public exchanges.
Those who genuinely possess credible evidence that will assist the course of justice should present such evidence before the appropriate judicial authorities. The courtroom remains the proper venue for determining facts, weighing evidence, and administering justice—not the court of public opinion.
Attempts to provoke the AIG into exchanging words with social media commentators serve no useful purpose. Such distractions neither advance justice nor honour the memory of the deceased. What the public deserves is a transparent judicial process that allows the truth to emerge based on evidence and the law.
As stakeholders in community policing, we must encourage restraint, uphold due process, and resist actions capable of undermining confidence in our justice system. We should all allow the courts to speak through their judgments rather than seek verdicts through media campaigns.
Let us remain committed to justice, fairness, and the rule of law.
Ven. Samson Kunle Popoola, JP
Chairman, Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos.
