Lagos DSV Agency has referred the alleged old tweets linked to Simi to police for investigation.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that 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 Executive Secretary of the agency, Lola Vivour-Adeniyi, disclosed this during an interview on Channels Television on Thursday, stating that the agency could not ignore the allegations circulating online.
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The controversy began after Simi made strong social media comments condemning rape, urging men to stop committing sexual violence and suggesting strict punishment for offenders. Her remarks generated widespread discussion.
Soon after, screenshots of old tweets allegedly dating back to 2012 and 2013 surfaced online. Some of the posts referenced children at her mother’s daycare, prompting criticism from certain social media users who described them as inappropriate.
The circulation of the screenshots sparked intense debate online, with some users questioning their context and authenticity.
Responding to the backlash, Simi addressed the issue on her social media platforms, explaining that the tweets reflected her youthful years and experiences assisting at her mother’s daycare. She maintained that the posts were not written with any harmful intent and said they had been taken out of context.
Speaking on the development, Vivour-Adeniyi said the agency had been monitoring the situation, popularly tagged online as “Simi Gates” and “Simi Darlington.” She noted that there were also claims that some of the tweets might have been altered.
Despite the uncertainty, she stated that the agency deemed it necessary to escalate the matter for formal scrutiny.
According to her, the case has been referred to the Commissioner of Police for preliminary investigation, particularly as safeguarding and child protection concerns have been raised. Reports suggesting that the alleged incidents may have occurred in a crèche managed by Simi’s mother were also cited.
Vivour-Adeniyi added that the Lagos State safeguarding taskforce, responsible for implementing child protection policies, has been briefed and preliminary inquiries are ongoing.
She emphasized that while the agency has a duty to initiate preliminary investigations, prosecution would depend on the availability of a complainant. She encouraged anyone who may have been affected to come forward to give a formal statement to authorities.
The agency reiterated its commitment to safeguarding and ensuring that due process is followed as investigations continue.
