The Nigeria Police, Lagos State Command, says it has arrested a 31-year-old fashion designer identified as Charles Ezeribe over alleged involvement in homosexuality.
The police also disclosed that a 28-year-old music promoter, identified as Kelvin Ibizugbe, is currently on the run after he escaped being lynched by aggrieved youths.
They were allegedly having sexual intercourse in a residential building around Chevron Drive, Lekki area of the state.
The police, while parading the suspect on Tuesday, August 23, 2022, at the Lekki Phase 1 police station, Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area, said the 31-year-old fashion designer was arrested around 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 20, 2022.
The command also vowed to arrest Kelvin, who is currently at large, and prosecute Charles in line with Nigeria’s anti-gay law, which prohibits same-sex marriage in the country.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), CSP Muyiwa Adejobi, decried the increase in crime reportage of homosexuality and wondered why people are disrespecting the traditions and laws of the country.
Giving details of how the suspect was arrested in a statement, CSP Adejobi said, “On the 20th of August, 2022, at about 18:00 hours, operatives of the divisional patrol team attacked Lekki Division and arrested a 31-year-old fashion designer in his apartment situated in Bera Estate, Chevron Drive, after urgent calls were placed to the station by some residents in the area.
“When the police got to the scene, one of the suspects, Charles Ezeribe, was wearing boxers and using a piece of cloth to cover his body as he was struggling to free himself from angry youths who had subdued him for apprehension while his lover partner, Kelvin Ibizugbe, had absconded.
“One Joseph, who identified himself as a landlord, caught them during the sexual intercourse and raised an alarm for neighbors to come out and witness the act. Joseph further claimed that he had been suspecting the duo of Kelvin and Charles after he spotted them kissing on the balcony one night.”
“The venue of the illicit act was thoroughly searched, but there were no illegal items found in the apartment.”.