Afrobeats singer, Owodunni Ibrahim, popularly known as Prime Boy, has filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, against the Nigerian Police Force for wrongful arrest, detention and violation of his fundamental rights.
The singer on Tuesday demanded a formal public apology and an official statement clearing him of any complicity in Mohbad’s death.
He noted that his life and music career were badly affected after he was labeled a criminal, declared wanted and detained for four months.
He explained further that even after he had voluntarily presented himself to the police and was subsequently released, the ‘criminal label’ continued to damage his reputation and career growth.
Speaking during a protest in Lagos, he said: “I want the Nigerian police to say sorry to me because I really went through a lot. I was detained for four months. I came to court today because I sued the Nigerian police. My life has been stagnant. What they did to me, if it were someone else, you might not see that person alive again. You can’t allow other people connected to the matter to walk freely and leave me damaged like that. No.”
He also urged the police to publicly clear his name of any criminal tag, saying: “I’m begging the Nigerian police to do the right thing. You declared me wanted, and you didn’t find anything incriminating. Please announce that I’m innocent.”
Prime Boy was arrested in the wake of the controversial death of his friend and popular singer, Mohbad, in 2023, following claims by police that he was complicit in Mohbad’s fatal injuries, an allegation Prime Boy consistently denied.
Prime Boy had said that he was only trying to calm Mohbad during a dispute between the late singer and his wife.
He added: “Mohbad has not been buried after three years. That’s what I suffered for. His family, brothers and sisters are enjoying the money people donated. Mohbad’s family, do the right thing. Nigerian government, do the right thing.”