A Nigerian man living in the United Kingdom, James Akinwande, has taken it upon himself to replace a pair of shoes and a wristwatch allegedly stolen from the brother of Kemi Badenoch, a prominent British politician and leader of the Conservative Party.
This comes after Badenoch recently accused officers of the Nigeria Police Force of stealing her brother’s belongings.
The incident came to light during a December 2024 interview where Badenoch shared her bitter experience with the Nigerian police.
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She described their actions as “an abuse of power” and compared it unfavourably with her positive encounters 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,” Badenoch said in the interview.
Her comments, which touched on Nigeria’s leadership and the police force, sparked a mix of anger and criticism from Nigerians.
While some agreed with her views, others, including Vice-President Kashim Shettima, accused her of consistently painting Nigeria in a bad light.
In an unusual response to her claims, Akinwande recorded a video where he bought a pair of shoes and a wristwatch at a UK store to “replace” the items allegedly taken by the police.
He proceeded to the Conservative Party headquarters, handing over the items to security personnel with instructions to deliver them to Badenoch.
At the end of the video, Akinwande added 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, tho..).”
The video immediately went viral across social media platforms, sparking conversations among Nigerians both at home and abroad.
However, the original clip has since been removed from Akinwande’s profile.
A look at his Instagram bio reveals that Akinwande is the international manager of popular Nigerian comedian Kenny Blaq.
Known for his creative responses to social issues, Akinwande’s move has left many Nigerians amused and impressed.
This development has added a new twist to the ongoing debate over Badenoch’s remarks. While some see Akinwande’s gesture as playful and patriotic, others question if it truly addresses the root of the problems Badenoch highlighted.
