James Akinwande, a Nigerian living in the United Kingdom, has taken action to replace a pair of shoes and a wristwatch that were allegedly stolen by officers of the Nigerian Police Force from Kemi Badenoch’s brother.
Badenoch, who leads the Conservative Party in the UK, recently recounted her negative experience with the Nigerian police in a December 2024 interview. She accused them of taking her brother’s belongings during a visit to Nigeria, describing the act as a clear abuse of authority.
“My experience with the police in Nigeria was very negative, and coming to the UK, my first encounter with law enforcement was a positive one. In Nigeria, the police would rob us. I specifically remember my brother having his shoes and his watch stolen,” Badenoch stated during the interview.
Her remarks have generated mixed reactions in Nigeria, with several individuals, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, accusing her of unfairly damaging the country’s reputation.
In a symbolic gesture to respond to Badenoch’s claims, Akinwande posted a video on social media in which he purchased new shoes and a wristwatch from a UK store. He then traveled to the Conservative Party headquarters, where he handed over the items to the security team with instructions to deliver them to Badenoch.
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Akinwande’s video quickly gained attention online, and he ended it with a message: “On behalf of every proud Nigerian who felt genuinely hurt by those unfounded disparaging remarks about the Nigerian Police, we ‘buy back’ the stolen shoes and watch! (I hope it fits, though…).”
Although the video went viral, Akinwande’s original post was later removed.
Akinwande is known for his work as the international manager for Nigerian comedian Kenny Blaq, according to his social media profiles.
