Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), Lola Vivour-Adeniyi, has said it would be difficult to prosecute singer Simisola Kosoko, popularly known as Simi, over alleged assault without a victim coming forward.
Simi recently faced public backlash after tweets she posted in 2012 resurfaced online. At the time, she was working at her mother’s daycare, and many interpreted her posts as sexualizing minors, prompting calls for legal action.
Reacting on Thursday during a breakfast show, Vivour-Adeniyi noted that while the DSVA has a duty to investigate, prosecution would be “very difficult” in the absence of a complainant.
“The truth of the matter is that it’s going to be very difficult to prosecute the lady without a survivor being present, a victim of whatever it is, whether it’s sexual abuse, rape, defilement, or sexual assault by provocation,” she said.
She urged anyone who may have been allegedly assaulted to come forward so their statements can be recorded, allowing the agency to determine next steps.
Vivour-Adeniyi explained that a DSVA task force including representatives from relevant government ministries such as Education, Youth, and Social Development works to ensure the safety and protection of children. However, she added that it is unclear if Simi’s mother’s daycare still exists, so it may not be visited as part of the inquiry.
Simi responds
Following the resurfacing of her tweets, Simi addressed the controversy on X, stating: “I haven’t been on Twitter today, but someone brought a few of my old tweets to my attention, and I can’t address them. 14 years ago, I was 23, so I was definitely not a child. I’m not here to make excuses because I don’t have anything to make excuses for. What I can’t let anyone do is twist my story to fit false narratives.”
She added that her tweets reflected her life at the time while helping at her mom’s daycare and pursuing her music career. “Kids can be mischievous. If a child did something I found funny, I tweeted about it. Kids are cute and lovable. I want to hug, kiss, and cuddle them. Nothing I tweeted was from perversion,” she explained.
The controversy follows Simi’s previous comments in support of TikTok influencer Mirabel in an alleged rape case, where she had written: “I’m sick of this. STOP RAPING WOMEN. They need to castrate rapists and burn them.”
