The Lagos State Government has dismissed allegations circulating on social media that it unlawfully arrested and detained a 14-year-old boy, identified in a viral Kirikiri video as Michael Adekunle, without trial at the Kirikiri custodial facility.
In a response issued by the Office of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, the Lagos State Government described the viral claims as “deliberate misinformation” intended to mislead the public and stir sympathy for the accused person.
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, clarified that the individual at the centre of the controversy is actually Michael Adebiyi.
According to official records, he was 18 years old at the time of his arrest in 2022.
The statement explained that Adebiyi, alongside Adedeji Kabiru and Adekunle Waris, was arrested by the police over allegations of armed robbery.
It further noted that the Directorate of Public Prosecutions received the duplicate case file on January 6, 2023, for legal advice, which was issued on January 25, 2023.
According to the legal advice, a prima facie case was established against Adebiyi and Kabiru for conspiracy to commit robbery and armed robbery, contrary to Sections 299 and 297(2)(a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
However, the government stated that Adekunle Waris was released and discharged after investigators found no evidence linking him to the alleged crime.
The Attorney General’s office also revealed that criminal charges were filed before the Lagos High Court on May 31, 2023.
The case was initially assigned to Justice A.J. Coker but later transferred to Justice H.O. Oshodi following Justice Coker’s reassignment on national duty.
The prosecution has since concluded its case in the ongoing trial before Justice Oshodi.
According to the statement, the defence team recently filed a no-case submission, challenging the prosecution’s evidence.
The application was served on the prosecution on April 23, 2026, and the matter has been adjourned to July 1, 2026, for hearing.
Responding to claims that the defendant is a minor, the government insisted that both his extrajudicial statement and official records identify him as Michael Adebiyi, aged 18 at the time of arrest, not “Michael Adekunle,” aged 14, as alleged in the viral video.
It further noted that at no stage during proceedings before the trial judges did the defendant or his lawyers dispute his identity or age.
The statement added that if such an issue had been raised earlier, the court could have ordered an age inquiry under Section 206 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The government urged the public to disregard the viral video, insisting that the claims do not reflect court or prosecution records.
“The video appears to have been deliberately circulated with the intention of whipping up public sentiment and generating undue sympathy on social media in favour of the defendant’s release,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, the controversy continued to generate public debate online, especially amid broader concerns about detention conditions and the treatment of suspects within Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
