Era of Police detaining suspects for weeks gone – Falana
The foremost Human Rights Lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana SAN has said that it is no longer permissible for the police to arrest or detain a suspect for weeks in their custody without contacting his or her relations to notify them about their whereabouts.
Falana who stated this while speaking during a 3-day capacity building workshop organized for prosecutors in Kano State on effective administration of criminal justice, said the era of such practice is gone.
The senior learned Silk said the police must contact the family to notify them that the suspect is in police custody so that the family won’t be looking for him, thinking that maybe he’s been kidnapped.
He also said Nigerians are entitled to demand legal representation right from the point they are in a police station before they are being interrogated.
According to him, “Our people, because of ignorance, are made to suffer daily in all police stations in Nigeria. For instance, if a Nigerian gets to the police station, a Nigerian is arrested, wherever, and you are taken to the police station, under the law, it is the duty of the police to contact the family that Mr so-so-so-and-so of this suspect is here so that the family won’t be looking for him, thinking that maybe he’s been kidnapped.
READ ALSO:
“You could be locked up for one week or more and there’s no contact with your family. That is no longer permissible under the law. If you have no lawyer and you are going to be interrogated by the police, you have the right as a Nigerian to demand legal representation and the police must contact the legal aid council to give you a lawyer.
“So from the police station, legal representation begins. It’s allowed. So by the time you are taken to court, that same body must also provide a lawyer for you if you don’t have the means to access justice.
“The rich can take care of themselves. The rich can have lawyers. They will have lawyers and if you find a big man or a big rich woman, you say, you meet me in court.
“I will instruct my lawyers to sue you. But for the poor, they say, God will judge. But God is saying, take advantage of the provisions made by the government to ask for justice,” he said.
He pointed out the need for more public defenders and lawyers across the 44 LGAs to stand for the rights and justice of the people.
Viral Threesome Video: Sisi Alagbo’s Husband Accepts Responsibility, Seeks Forgiveness
The husband of popular Nigerian social media personality Eniola Fagbemi, widely known as Sisi Alagbo, Akeem Adesola has publicly apologised following the circulation of a private video involving himself, his wife and another woman that triggered widespread reactions online.
The video surfaced earlier this week and quickly spread across WhatsApp groups, Telegram channels, gossip blogs and other social media platforms, generating intense public debate and criticism.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page on Thursday, Adesola Akeem accepted responsibility for the incident and expressed remorse over the embarrassment and disappointment caused by the controversy.
“I write with a deep sense of responsibility and sincere remorse to extend my heartfelt apologies to my family, friends, business associates, religious leaders, fans, loved ones, and the entire Nigerian public over the recent incident involving a leaked scandal,” he wrote.
“I acknowledge the disappointment, embarrassment, and concern this situation has caused, and I take full responsibility for my actions.”
Akeem said his behaviour fell below the standards expected by people who had supported and trusted him over the years. He also apologised specifically to his family members, supporters, business associates and religious community.
“To my fans and supporters, I deeply regret letting you down,” he added.
According to him, the incident has become a period of personal reflection, noting that he intends to rebuild trust and make better decisions moving forward.
“I am committed to making better decisions, rebuilding trust, and upholding integrity in both my private and public life going forward,” he stated.
Sisi Alagbo had earlier reacted to the controversy through a statement shared on her verified Facebook account on Wednesday. She apologised to followers and supporters, saying the situation had left her emotionally distressed.
“I own my mistakes, and I apologize with all sincerity for the video circulating online. I am deeply sorry to everyone who felt disappointed in me,” she wrote.
The incident has continued to dominate conversations on Nigerian social media, with reactions ranging from criticism to calls for privacy and restraint in sharing sensitive personal materials online.
Some social media users also raised concerns over the growing trend of leaked private content and cyberbullying, urging the public to avoid further circulation of the video.
Sisi Alagbo became widely known online through her promotion of herbal products and lifestyle content. She gained additional national attention during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco after a viral moment involving Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen.
The couple has not disclosed whether legal action will be pursued regarding the source of the leaked material.
Lagos faces major power outage after twin failures at Egbin, transmission line
Lagos is facing a widespread power outage after a critical double disruption knocked out a major chunk of electricity supply to the nation’s commercial hub.
The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) said a sudden shutdown of the Egbin Power Station and a transmission line failure had significantly weakened power delivery to the state, forcing emergency load-shedding measures.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the system operator disclosed that the Egbin plant suffered a major operational disturbance late on April 28, wiping out its entire output and tightening supply constraints across Lagos.
The incident has also sparked unconfirmed reports of a contractor’s death at the facility, though officials have yet to verify the claim or provide details on what may have occurred.
According to NISO, the disruption happened at about 8:21 p.m., when Egbin’s generation abruptly dropped from approximately 641 megawatts to zero.
The outage was traced to critical equipment failure within the plant, specifically the breakdown of its central compressor and a malfunction in the circulating water pump system. The faults forced an immediate shutdown of all generating units to protect the facility from further damage.
The situation was further worsened by a transmission constraint limiting power flow into Lagos.
“Power supply to the Lagos region is currently further restricted due to the forced outage of the Osogbo–Ikeja West 330kV transmission line,” the operator said, noting that the fault has hampered the evacuation of available electricity into the Lagos load centre.
The combined impact of the generation collapse and transmission failure has created a major supply gap, prompting authorities to ration electricity to stabilise the grid and prevent a broader system failure.
NISO said contingency measures have been activated, including redistributing available power among distribution companies and prioritising critical infrastructure.
Efforts are also underway to ramp up generation from other plants to cushion the impact on consumers.
The agency apologised for the disruption, acknowledging that Lagos and surrounding areas have been hardest hit, and assured residents that stakeholders are working to restore normal supply as quickly as possible.
Located in Ikorodu, Egbin Power Station remains Nigeria’s largest thermal plant on the national grid, with an installed capacity exceeding 1,300MW. Its strategic importance means any outage typically triggers immediate and widespread supply shortages, especially in Lagos, the country’s biggest electricity market.
The Osogbo–Ikeja West 330kV line is equally vital, serving as a key transmission backbone that channels power into Lagos from other parts of the country.
The latest incident once again underscores the vulnerability of Nigeria’s power infrastructure, where isolated failures in generation or transmission can quickly cascade into large-scale outages, highlighting the urgent need for system upgrades and improved maintenance.
Cyberbullying: Police Confirm Arresting Rolex Dee Over Taye Currency’s Petition
The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed that efforts are underway to track and arrest controversial social media personality, Rolex Dee, following a cyberbullying and defamation complaint reportedly filed by popular Fuji musician, Taye Currency.
Police authorities disclosed that the matter is currently under investigation after receiving a formal petition accusing Rolex Dee of using social media platforms to allegedly harass, threaten, and defame the musician.
According to police sources, detectives attached to the command’s cybercrime unit have already commenced digital tracking and intelligence gathering aimed at locating the suspect.
The command said the investigation followed several online videos and livestream sessions allegedly containing defamatory remarks and offensive statements directed at Taye Currency.
A senior police official familiar with the case reportedly confirmed that steps were being taken to ensure the suspect is apprehended and questioned in line with provisions of the Cybercrimes Act.
“We have received a complaint, investigation has commenced, and efforts are ongoing to track and arrest the individual involved,” the source said.
READ ALSO:
The development comes after tensions escalated on social media between supporters of the Fuji singer and followers of Rolex Dee, with several viral clips generating heated reactions online.
Taye Currency, whose real name is Alhaji Taye Akande Adebisi, is one of the leading Fuji musicians in the Southwest and has maintained a strong fan base for years.
Sources close to the musician alleged that repeated online attacks against him and members of his family forced him to seek police intervention.
The controversy has further sparked debate over the increasing use of social media for personal attacks, cyberbullying, blackmail, and reputational damage among celebrities and influencers in Nigeria.
Legal experts say the Nigerian Cybercrimes Act empowers law enforcement agencies to investigate online harassment, cyberstalking, threats, and publication of false information capable of causing emotional, psychological, or reputational harm.
Meanwhile, supporters of Rolex Dee have reacted online, with some insisting that the issue should be resolved amicably rather than through criminal prosecution.
Human rights advocates have also urged security agencies to ensure that investigations respect constitutional rights, including freedom of expression, while distinguishing criticism from criminal cyber harassment.
The police command has, however, warned social media users against abusing digital platforms to intimidate, threaten, or spread harmful content against others.
Authorities reiterated that individuals found guilty of cyberbullying, cyberstalking, or online defamation could face prosecution under Nigerian law.
MURIC Condemns Rape of 11-Year-Old Hijab Girl in Ogun, Warns Against Cover-Up
Viral Threesome Video: Sisi Alagbo’s Husband Accepts Responsibility, Seeks Forgiveness
“I Can’t Eat or Sleep”: Sisialagbo Cries Out, Begs For Forgiveness Over Leaked Video
Police Officer Arrested After Shooting Handcuffed Suspect Dead in Viral Video
BREAKING: APC Chieftain Osifo Enters 2027 Race, Buys ₦100m Form to Challenge Tinubu
ASP Nuhu: Viral Delta Police Shooting Raises Questions Over Officer’s Past
BREAKING: Court Bars INEC from Recognising Mark-Led ADC Congresses
“Hamzat Is Scared of Primaries” — Lagos APC Aspirant Rejects Consensus Plan
