UK-based Nigerian gospel singer, Muyiwa Olarewaju, has recounted how he was treated as a suspect after narrowly escaping a robbery attempt earlier this year.
In a video shared via his Twitter account, the broadcaster and worship leader narrated the February incident, which occurred around 5:30 a.m. while he was on his way to work.
According to him, a young white man attempted to break into his vehicle and smashed the window. After escaping the situation and making it safely to work, he contacted the police and reported the incident, pointing them to nearby surveillance cameras.
“I told the police where the cameras were in that area, the fact that the guy had smashed up my window, and the worrying and all that it caused,” Olarewaju said.
However, the situation took an unexpected turn when the police, after reviewing the camera footage, began to investigate him instead.
“Immediately after the police got in touch with me, the next thing was they now began an investigation where I was now the suspect,” he said. “Yes, I was now the suspect.”
The singer explained that despite being the one who reported the attack, he was called in for questioning and had to hire a lawyer to defend himself.
“They called me in for interviews, etc., etc., and I had to get a lawyer. Thank God for family in Hanson Woods. I highly recommend solicitors Hanson Woods — they were absolutely phenomenal,” he said.
Olarewaju revealed that the police never found the young man captured on camera attacking his vehicle, but he was investigated for affray — a charge typically related to public fighting.
“The police never found the young man who they saw on camera. But I was being investigated for affray,” he said.
The investigation reportedly lasted for three months before the police dropped the case due to lack of evidence.
“Three months later, they’ve come back to say nothing to see here. They can’t find the guy who attacked my car, and they don’t have any more evidence on their charge against me,” he added.
He concluded by advising the public to be cautious and legally prepared.
“So be careful out there. And if you don’t have legal representation already, have it ready just in case you go through a thing like this. I’m sure the police are doing a wonderful job to keep law and order, but some things go wrong sometimes,” he added.
