The Lagos State Ministry of Justice has rebutted widespread media reports alleging that a teenager and an adult were arrested and detained for nearly four years over a minor dispute involving a pair of slippers.
​In an official clarification issued on October 3, 2026, the government confirmed that both individuals were formally prosecuted for alleged conspiracy to commit robbery and armed robbery, rather than petty theft.
​Speaking on behalf of the ministry, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mr. Adebayo Haroun, disclosed that the legal action stemmed from an alleged armed robbery incident reported in 2022. Following police investigations and legal evaluation, the state advised that the suspects be formally charged under the Criminal Law of Lagos State for capital offenses.
The defendants were taken into custody by police officers in 2022 following allegations of armed robbery in the Lagos metropolitan area. The case was brought before the High Court of Lagos State, where formal charges of conspiracy and armed robbery were filed against both individuals.
According to Mr. Haroun, the prosecution encountered severe trial delays due to the failure to locate the principal witness and victim, identified as Mr. Danjuma. State prosecutors made repeated attempts to secure Danjuma’s appearance in court, but his mobile phone remained persistently unreachable.
Due to the absence of the key witness to substantiate the armed robbery allegations, the trial court sustained the defense’s No Case Submission in late September 2026, discharging both defendants.
​Reiterating the state’s position, Mr. Haroun stressed that while the defendants regained their freedom due to evidentiary gaps created by the missing complainant, the narrative surrounding a “slippers theft detention” was factually incorrect.
​”The Ministry clarifies that the defendants were charged and prosecuted for alleged conspiracy to commit robbery and armed robbery,” Haroun stated. He emphasized that the state government remains committed to upholding due process, ensuring that grave criminal allegations are thoroughly prosecuted while respecting judicial decisions when evidence cannot be produced.
