The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) has said that prosecuting singer Simi over what she said when she was 23 would be difficult without any complainant or identifiable victim.
The issue began after Simi wrote on her X account that rapists should be “castrated and burnt alive.” Her comment was made after a TikTok user known as Mirabel raised sexual assault allegations.
Reports later circulated online claiming that Mirabel had withdrawn her earlier statement, though details remain unclear.
Following Simi’s post, users on social media shared screenshots of tweets from 2012 on her personal account.
In the posts, she made comments about a four-year-old child at her mother’s daycare, describing the child as having a crush on her and attempting physical contact. Critics described the remarks as inappropriate.
Simi eventually responded, stating that the posts were taken out of context. She said she was 23 years old at the time and assisting at her mother’s daycare while pursuing her music career. She added that she has consistently spoken against rape and sexual assault.
Speaking on Morning Brief on Channels Television, the Executive Secretary of DSVA, Lola Vivour-Adeniyi, said the agency has a duty to review matters that raise public concern.
“As for the Simi case, we cannot act like we have not seen these things. We have a duty to at least commence a preliminary investigation,” she said.
However, she explained that moving beyond a preliminary review would be legally challenging without cooperation from an alleged victim.
“The truth of the matter is that it’s going to be very difficult to prosecute the lady without a survivor being present,” Vivour-Adeniyi said. “A victim of whatever it is; sexual abuse, sexual assault, or defilement, should step forward.
This is to start the process, document, and ensure that their statement is taken. Then we will know where we are going on the matter.”
She confirmed that the agency had referred the matter to the police for further review.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) had earlier announced plans to examine the allegations.
Under Nigerian criminal procedure, prosecution in sexual offence cases typically requires a formal complaint and evidence to support the allegation.
Authorities say that without a statement from a complainant, it is difficult to establish the elements required to proceed in court.
In a separate but slightly similar event, actress Eniola Badmus threatened legal action against an X user identified as @Femzydr1 after he allegedly linked her to an alleged sexual exploitation network.
The user accused Badmus of referring young women to influential figures in entertainment and politics. The claim in the post was not supported by evidence.
Responding on her verified X account on February 26, 2026, Badmus denied the allegation and indicated that authorities would become involved. “This is a false accusation and authorities will step in,” she wrote.
No formal charges have been announced in either matter as of Friday, February 27, 2026.
Authorities say further action depends on the availability of complainants and verifiable evidence.
