Probably because of his past postings, which were marked by efficient service delivery and display of uncommon integrity and fascinating professionalism, Mr Moshood Olohundare Jimoh, who was elevated to the rank of Police Commissioner in January last year, ranks among the most notable police officers in contemporary Nigeria.

The new Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command initially embraced limelight when he served as the Public Relations Officer of the FCT Police Command under the then CP Haruna John.
Mr Haruna later died in active service as a Deputy Inspector General (DIG).

Mr Jimoh subsequently became a national figure and prominent newsmaker when he served as the Force Public Relations Officer during the tenure of Mr Ibrahim Kpotun Idris who served as the Inspector-General of Police, Federal Republic of Nigeria from 2016 to 2019.

This senior police officer, therefore, appears as someone who doesn’t need much introduction to the Nigerian public, particularly the people who inhabit the headquarters of the nation’s thriving and ever-sophisiticated media industry.

However, as someone who has known Mr Jimoh for more than four decades I still believe that I owe it a duty to shed some light into the intimidating profile and exciting personality of this distinguished officer and gentleman.

This is important for Lagosians to know how fortunate they are to have a man of his calibre and charisma as the head of the internal security of their state.

Mr Jimoh is a born leader. He is an enterprising figure and a man who is endowed with wisdom, courage and positive dispositions.

He is a man who believes in justice and fair play as well as the welfare of those he works with. He is also an exemplary patriot and a self-made man. He is equally highly disciplined and focused.

Right from the time I first knew him in 1984, his characters have always earned him leadership positions. He has always given a good account of himself in every position he is entrusted with.

Before the completion of his West African School Certificate (WASC) course in 1987 at Barakat Community Secondary School, Ilorin, where our paths first crossed, he was tested and trusted with two different positions of great influence. He didn’t disappoint on each of the positions.

He was first appointed the School’s Assistant Time Keeper. He later served as the School’s Health Perfect.

As one of his immediate juniors, I can confirm to you that his appointment as a Time Keeper was informed by his brilliance, fine temperament and punctuality.

It is also important to stress that his appointment as Health Perfect was also informed by his punctuality, neatness and willingness to help others in addition to his brilliance.

I must add that throughout he never used the privilege of either of the two positions to bully his juniors. He was quite friendly, considerate and helpful.

Fortunately, he was also my immediate senior at the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Before his graduation with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science in 1997 from the University, the new Lagos CP was also entrusted with several positions. He was elected as the Welfare Officer of the National Association of Kwara State Students (NAKSS) in 1994. In 1995, Mr Jimoh was elected as the President of the Samaru Campus chapter of the Ilorin Emirate Students Union (IESU). He held the position until his graduation. It was in the course of his services as IESU President that I served under him as the Union’s General Secretary.

As IESU President, Mr Jimoh exhibited uncommon courage, perseverance, tolerance, patience and generousity. He was able to use the position to cater for the interests of his members within and outside the campus.

In between, he also worked with a few others, including yours sincerely, to found the Alumni Association of Barakat Community Secondary School, Ilorin. While serving as the pioneer President of the Association, Mr Jimoh, who was then a part-time staff of the famous Aye Blocks Industry, Ilorin, singlehandedly funded the Association and also contributed greatly to the staging of a career day in the school in 1996.

In 1995, Mr Jimoh demonstrated two virtues, which I would continue to remember and cherish. The first was courage. This was done when he came to pick me at home one day for what he called a working visit to the then Commissioner of Police in Kwara State, Alhaji Baba Ahmadu. I was initially afraid because I had never been to any police outfit but he insisted that I should not be afraid because police are not only human beings like us but are also our friends. Though the then CP was not on seat when we got to his office, that episode registered his courage and power of conviction in me till date.

The second virtue he demonstrated was absolute faith in Allah. This was when we visited a then serving Minister of the Federal Republic in his Ilorin home. In the course of our interactions, the Minister (now deceased) enquired from us the courses we were studying. When Mr Jimoh told him that he was reading Political Science, the man declared that he wouldn’t get a job simply because of the course he was studying.

As soon as we left the presence of the then Minister, Mr Jimoh asked me whether I heard what the man said and I answered him in affirmative. I, however, encouraged him not to be disturbed by the “verdict” of the Minister as he was not God. He accepted my exultation and said “amen” to my subsequent prayers. As God would have it, of the three of us who witnessed the “verdict” of the ex-Minister, Mr Jimoh was the first to secure a job.

A proud son of Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, Mr Jimoh was born in the city of Ilorin on August 10, 1971 to the family of Alhaji Jimoh Bolanta and Alhaja Alimat Onikepe Jimoh. His father is a retired soldier while his mother is a trader.

After his mandatory youth service in Abuja between 1997 and 1998, Mr Jimoh enlisted in the Nigerian Police Force in 2000. He was subsequently trained at the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, Kano State.

Following his commissioning as an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in 2001, Mr Jimoh was posted to Akampa Police Division, Cross River State Police Command where he commenced his brilliant career.

He has since served in a number of police formations and sensitive positions across the federation. He served in the FCT. He was also in Gombe State and Oyo State as well as the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, among several others in the last 25 years of his active services to the people and government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a law enforcement officer.

He also served beyond the shores of Nigeria. Mr Jimoh was a member of the Nigerian contingent to the African Union Peace Keeping Mission to Darfur, Sudan.

This outstanding police officer is well trained. He has benefited from a number of local and international training such as Crime Prevention, Seoul, South Korea in 2013; Training on Social Construction and Management Reform from the China Executive Leadership Academy, Pudong, China in 2014; Training on Maritime Rescue and Salvage for Developing Countries at the China Maritime Police Academy in 2015 and Training on Anti-Hijacking Techniques and Tactics for Developing Countries, which he received from the Special Police Academy, Beijing, China in 2016. Others are training for Senior Law Enforcement Officers of Developing Countries,Yunnan Police College,Kunming, China in April 2018 and Training on SMART Government and Informatization at the Academy for International Business Officials, Beijing, China in 2023, to mention just a few.

He is equally a member of many professional bodies. These include the Institute of Management Consultants of Nigeria, the Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria, the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations(NIPR) and the African Business School, Abuja. He is equally a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants and the Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria. He was also conferred with a Practising License as a Certified Management Consultant (CMC) by the Institute of Management Consultants, Nigeria in December, 2019 and Certified Management Award with Distinction in Time Management by London Graduate School, Central London Office in December, 2019.

Mr Jimoh is also a recipient of several honours and awards. These include two times NIPR Presidential awards, the Commissioner of Police Letter of Commendation for Diligence and Excellent Performance, the Award of Recognition for Commendable Service as a Civilian Police Member of the African Union Peace Mission in Sudan in 2007 and the Certificate of Commendation on Outstanding Performance and Dedication to duties towards the actualisation of peace in Sudan.

Prior to his posting to the commercial and industrial capital of Nigeria, Mr Jimoh was the Commissioner of Police, Eastern Port Command, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State.

As someone who has worked and related with him over the years, I can assure the people and government of Lagos State that they have a true “Omoluabi” as their Police Commissioner. They can always sleep with their two eyes closed as Mr Jimoh is someone who would lead with exemplary dedication, absolute commitment and uncommon sophistication.

Though Mr Jimoh is a devout Muslim, a number of his friends are Christians. He is also a fan of deceased Yoruba traditional musicians such as Yusuf Olatunji, Haruna Ishola, Odolaiye Aremu and Jaigbade Alao.

The new Lagos Police Commissioner, who is married and blessed with children, is no doubt a thoroughbred professional and a God-fearing man. He would surely mobilise available human and material resources to fight crimes and criminality to a standstill.

Nevertheless, Mr Jimoh would need the loyalty and cooperation of his officers and men. He would need the cooperation of the members of the public.

I wish Mr Jimoh a very peaceful, exciting and rewarding tenure as Police Commissioner, Lagos State Command.

Imam is National Secretary, Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union.