A police investigation into the controversial murders of Sheriff Ishola Salami and Prince Ademola Akinloye has found no direct evidence linking community leader Alhaji Hammed Tajudeen Akanbi to the killings, despite earlier allegations made against him by members of the Ojomu Royal Family of Ajiran.
The findings were contained in a Police Progress Investigation Report dated May 23, 2026, submitted to the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, following a detailed probe into the deaths of the two men who were killed in separate attacks in 2023 and 2024.
The report revealed that investigators thoroughly examined allegations that Akanbi masterminded the murders but found substantial evidence supporting his claim that he was outside Nigeria when both incidents occurred.
According to the report, the Nigeria Immigration Service confirmed that Akanbi was not in the country at the time Sheriff Salami was murdered on April 18, 2023, and when Prince Ademola Akinloye was killed on August 26, 2024.
The police stated that the suspect's alibi was investigated and verified through official immigration records.
"Investigation carried out indeed established that the suspect was far away outside the country at the time of the two murder incidents," the report stated.
Investigators also scrutinized Akanbi's financial transactions, following allegations that he funded the attacks through intermediaries. However, the report disclosed that forensic examination of his bank accounts and digital devices failed to establish any financial link between him and the alleged killers.
The police specifically noted that no evidence was found showing transfers of money to individuals identified as "Bode" or "Kenny," who had allegedly been mentioned by suspects as intermediaries in the crime.
The report further stated that forensic analysis conducted by the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre in Abuja found no record of direct transfers of N3 million or any other payments connecting Akanbi to the murders.
Similarly, investigators traced payments made by Akanbi on the day Prince Akinloye was killed and found no evidence that recipients of the funds transferred money to any of the suspected perpetrators.
During interrogation, Akanbi denied all allegations against him, insisting that he had no disputes with the deceased and had never instructed anyone to commit murder or engage in violence on his behalf.
He maintained that the accusations stemmed from longstanding land disputes within Ajiran community and were aimed at tarnishing his reputation and silencing him.
The report also highlighted inconsistencies in the confessional statements of two suspects already facing trial for the murder of Sheriff Salami. The suspects, Shafi Fatai, popularly known as "Fabo," and Yusuf Ismail, alias "Bariga," reportedly gave contradictory accounts regarding who hired them to carry out the killing.
According to investigators, the duo later recanted their earlier confessions, alleging that they had been obtained under duress by the initial investigating team.
Police noted that key individuals allegedly linked to the case, including a man identified only as "Bode," remain at large, while another alleged intermediary known as "Kenny" was reported to have died, making it impossible for investigators to establish any direct nexus between them and Akanbi.
Although investigators acknowledged that Akanbi had acquaintanceship and community ties with some of the suspects, they stated that scientific and forensic investigations did not uncover evidence directly connecting him to the planning, financing or execution of the murders.
The report concluded that while investigations into the broader circumstances surrounding the killings remain ongoing, evidence gathered so far supports Akanbi's claim that he was not present in Nigeria when the murders occurred and that allegations of his direct involvement remain unsubstantiated.
The findings are expected to intensify calls from Akanbi's supporters and legal representatives for authorities to respect due process and avoid prosecuting individuals in the absence of credible evidence.
The murders of Sheriff Salami and Prince Akinloye, both prominent figures within Ajiran community, have remained a source of tension and controversy, with competing factions within the community continuing to dispute responsibility for the killings.
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