The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) has referred the controversy surrounding resurfaced tweets allegedly linked to singer Simi to the Commissioner of Police for preliminary investigation.
The agency’s Executive Secretary, Lola Vivour-Adeniyi, disclosed this on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television, stating that the agency could not ignore the allegations circulating online.
The controversy began after Simi made social media comments condemning rape, calling for men to stop raping women, suggesting castration for rapists, and stating that “almost every woman she knows has been sexually assaulted.” The remarks sparked widespread debate.
Shortly after, screenshots of old tweets believed to date back to 2012 and 2013 surfaced online. Some of the posts referenced children at her mother’s daycare, including statements that critics described as inappropriate. The tweets generated intense backlash on social media, with some users accusing the singer of misconduct.
In response, Simi addressed the issue on her social media platforms, explaining that the posts reflected her youthful expressions while assisting at her mother’s daycare. She denied any perverse intent and said the tweets had been taken out of context.
Speaking on the development, Vivour-Adeniyi said the agency had been monitoring what some have dubbed “Simi Gates and Simi Darlington,” noting that questions had arisen about institutional response.
“We’ve been observing, and because we saw tweets dating back to 2012 and 2014, and there were also claims that some may have been doctored, we decided to escalate the matter,” she said.
According to her, the case has been referred to the Commissioner of Police for preliminary investigation, particularly as concerns were raised about possible safeguarding and child protection issues linked to a crèche reportedly managed by the singer’s mother.
She added that Lagos State’s safeguarding taskforce, responsible for implementing child protection orders, has been briefed and that preliminary investigations are ongoing.
Vivour-Adeniyi emphasized that while the agency has a duty to initiate inquiries, prosecution would depend on the presence of a complainant.
“It will be difficult to prosecute without a survivor. So we are encouraging anyone who may have been affected to come forward and make a statement so we can determine the next steps,” she said.
The agency reiterated its commitment to safeguarding and ensuring that all allegations of sexual abuse or misconduct are thoroughly examined in line with the law.
