Lagos Govt Refutes Claims of Minor's Unlawful Detention

The Lagos State Government has refuted claims of unlawful detention of a minor following a viral video that alleged the wrongful arrest of a 14-year-old boy named Michael Adekunl. The government clarified that the individual actually involved is Michael Adebiyi, who was 18 years old at the time of his arrest in 2022.

Alongside Adedeji Kabiru Adekunl, Adebiyi was arrested by the police on allegations of armed robbery. The Director of Public Prosecutions received a duplicate case file on January 6, 2023, and legal advice was issued on January 25, 2023, establishing a prima facie case against Adebiyi and Kabiru for conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

However, the third suspect, Adekunl, was released after investigations found no evidence linking him to the alleged offense. The Lagos High Court is currently handling the case, with proceedings ongoing and a no-case submission filed by the defense.

The government urged the public to disregard the viral video, asserting it was circulated to mislead and generate undue sympathy.