A Nigerian man based in the United Kingdom, James Akinwande, has made headlines for replacing a pair of shoes and a wristwatch allegedly stolen from the brother of Kemi Badenoch, leader of the UK’s Conservative Party, by officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
Badenoch recently claimed during a December 2024 interview that some officers in Nigeria had stolen her brother’s belongings, describing their actions as an abuse of power. She also contrasted her negative experiences with the NPF with more positive interactions with the police in the UK.
“My experience with the police in Nigeria was very negative, and coming to the UK, my first experience with the police was very positive. The police in Nigeria would rob us. I remember the police stealing my brother’s shoes and his watch. It’s a very poor country, so people do all sorts of things,” she remarked.
Her statements sparked mixed reactions among Nigerians, with many accusing her of unfairly criticizing her home country. Vice President Kashim Shettima and other notable figures expressed disapproval, accusing Badenoch of consistently tarnishing Nigeria’s image on international platforms.
Akinwande’s Gesture
In response to Badenoch’s remarks, Akinwande took to social media, posting a video where he bought a pair of shoes and a wristwatch from a UK store as replacements for the allegedly stolen items. The video also showed him delivering the items to security personnel at the Conservative Party headquarters for onward delivery to Badenoch.
At the end of the video, Akinwande wrote:
“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, tho..).”
The video quickly went viral on social media, garnering widespread attention, though Akinwande’s original post has since been taken down.
Who is James Akinwande?
According to his Instagram profile, Akinwande is the international manager of popular Nigerian comedian Kenny Blaq. His gesture has resonated with Nigerians who feel Badenoch’s comments unfairly stereotype the nation and its police force, while others have applauded him for humorously addressing a sensitive issue.
The incident has reignited conversations about Nigeria’s image abroad and the responsibilities of individuals in positions of influence, especially those with dual heritage, to represent their countries fairly.
