Lagos Police declare Victor Ohiri wanted over alleged Festac same-sex incident

The Lagos State Police Command has reportedly declared Victor Ohiri wanted in connection with an alleged same-sex incident in the Festac area of Lagos.

The incident was said to have occurred on July 12, 2025, following an alarm over an alleged same-sex act involving Ohiri and Favour Nzubechi.

According to sources familiar with the matter, Ohiri allegedly fled the scene after the alarm was raised, while Nzubechi was subsequently apprehended and taken to the Festac Police Station.

Sources said Nzubechi has been assisting investigators with inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the incident as the police continue efforts to establish what occurred.

The police reportedly intensified their search for Ohiri after he allegedly escaped from the scene.

A source further alleged that a sibling of the wanted suspect was briefly arrested in an attempt to persuade Ohiri to come forward and submit himself to the police.

The sibling was later released following the intervention of a lawyer reportedly engaged by the family, according to the source.

The police are expected to determine the appropriate charges based on evidence gathered during the investigation, while efforts to locate Ohiri continue.

The development comes against the background of Nigeria’s Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, enacted in 2013 and signed into law in January 2014.

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The law prohibits same-sex marriage contracts and civil unions and provides that such unions are not recognised as valid in Nigeria. It also prohibits the registration, operation or sustenance of gay clubs, societies and organisations, as well as certain public displays of same-sex amorous relationships.

Section 5 of the Act provides different penalties depending on the offence involved. A person who enters into a same-sex marriage contract or civil union may face a prison term of up to 14 years, while other offences attract separate penalties.

However, legal practitioners and scholars have continued to debate the scope and application of the legislation.

Legal practitioner Justice Osai Ahiakwo, while commenting on a related legislative debate, recently noted that Nigeria already has federal legislation governing same-sex marriage and questioned constitutional issues that could arise from attempts by a state legislature to enact separate legislation covering the same subject.

Legal scholars Emmanuel L. Umbu and Joseph Agada have similarly examined aspects of the Act, including questions relating to marriage rights and the scope of the prohibition under Nigerian law.

For the Festac case, the immediate focus will be on the evidence available to investigators and whether it establishes a specific offence under applicable Nigerian law.

Legal analysts cautioned that an arrest or allegation does not, by itself, establish criminal liability.

Similarly, Ohiri’s reported status as a wanted suspect does not amount to a conviction, while Nzubechi’s reported arrest should not be interpreted as proof of guilt.

The police investigation is expected to determine the facts surrounding the incident and whether sufficient evidence exists to support prosecution of any offence.