The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency has explained why prosecuting singer-songwriter and actress Simisola “Simi” Kosoko over allegations of paedophilia may be difficult.
Speaking on Morning Brief on Thursday, the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, Lola Vivour-Adeniyi, said prosecution would be challenging in the absence of a survivor or complainant willing to formally report the matter.
“The truth is that it will be very difficult to prosecute without a survivor being present,” she said.
The comments follow renewed controversy around Simi after old posts from her X account resurfaced, with social media users accusing the singer of paedophilia. The posts, dated 2012, allegedly suggested that toddlers at her mother’s daycare had been sexualised.
The 37-year-old singer came under scrutiny after she spoke out about rising concerns over sexual assault in Nigeria, following a claim by TikToker Mirabel that she was raped in her apartment. After Mirabel later admitted the allegation was false, netizens unearthed Simi’s old posts.
In the posts, Simi allegedly referenced a four-year-old child having a crush on her and “acting like he wants to lock lips,” and in another, claimed the child was “trying to put his hand inside my shirt.”
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Responding to the backlash, Simi explained that she made the posts at the age of 23 while assisting at her mother’s daycare centre. Her explanation, however, reignited calls for authorities to investigate the matter thoroughly.
Reacting to the controversy, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) stated on its Instagram page on Tuesday that it is committed to carrying out a comprehensive investigation of all credible reports. The agency urged anyone with factual information, evidence, direct knowledge, or who may have been affected by the issues to come forward.
Adding her voice, Vivour-Adeniyi called on the Ogun State Government to initiate a preliminary investigation into the allegations.
According to her, authorities have a responsibility to take allegations of abuse or misconduct seriously once they surface.
“As for the Simi case, we cannot pretend that we have not seen these reports. We have a duty to at least begin a preliminary investigation,” she said.
However, she stressed that legal action would remain difficult without direct testimony from those involved. Vivour-Adeniyi encouraged anyone who may have experienced sexual abuse, assault, aggression, or defamation related to the case to report and provide information to aid proper examination of the claims.
She added that once formal statements are taken, authorities would be in a better position to determine the appropriate next steps.
