By Our Report

A 26-year-old Nigerian man, Oluwadamilare Toheeb Alabi, is currently the subject of an investigation by the Nigeria Police Force following the recovery of explicit material linking him to alleged homosexual activity — an act criminalized under Nigerian law. The development has sparked fresh debate over the state’s enforcement of the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act of 2014, as well as concerns about privacy, consent, and human rights.

Alabi, who was born on October 17, 1997, in Lagos State, had until recently lived a quiet life as a generator technician in the Surulere area of Lagos. But beneath the surface, he had long been navigating the dangers of a double life — one shaped by his bisexual identity in a country where homosexuality is not only taboo but legally punishable.

Raised in a conservative Muslim household, Alabi was the eldest child of a working-class family. His father was a delivery driver for United Parcel Service (UPS), and his mother traded household goods at the local market. The values instilled in him were typical of his environment: obedience, discretion, and strict adherence to religious and cultural norms.

A Childhood Marked by Secrecy and Exploitation

Alabi’s journey into secrecy began early — at just 11 years old — when he attended Anointed Secondary School in Lagos. It was there that he alleges he was sexually groomed by his then mathematics teacher, Mr. Moses Chukwudi, under the guise of mentorship. According to Alabi, the teacher would offer him snacks, praise, and attention, gradually turning those interactions into something more intimate.

Though Chukwudi was transferred out of the school in 2012, the psychological and emotional impact lingered. Alabi said he became confused about his feelings, especially as they began to develop toward his male classmates.

It wasn’t long before those feelings found mutual expression. In 2013, Alabi began a relationship with a fellow student, Abeeb Oladipupo, who had himself been bullied for perceived effeminacy. The two boys grew close — bonded by secrecy, fear, and the comfort of shared experience. But their private world came crashing down when they were caught kissing in the school library. The school’s response was swift and merciless: both boys were expelled.

At home, Alabi was met not with compassion, but condemnation. His parents were devastated. Fearing social ridicule and spiritual repercussions, they took him to their ancestral village for what they described as a “cleansing ritual.” Over several weeks, he was subjected to spiritual deliverance practices meant to “cure” him of what they believed to be demonic possession.

A Return to the Shadows

After completing secondary education at Bayo Tijani High School, Alabi took up generator repairs to make a living. He remained closeted, but loneliness and internal conflict gnawed at him. In 2017, he briefly dated a woman, Suliyat Bello, a client’s daughter who showed him kindness. Alabi described their relationship as an effort to “be normal,” but when she proposed marriage in 2019, he ended the relationship, unable to continue the charade.

In 2020, a chance meeting at a bar introduced Alabi to Eniola Adewuyi, a freelance photographer. Their friendship quickly turned into a romantic partnership. For the first time in years, Alabi felt seen and accepted. The two men began living discreetly in a rented apartment in Surulere.

But their privacy was shattered in May 2024.

A Phone, a Fight, and a Police Investigation

On the night of May 3, 2024, a violent altercation broke out at a Lagos nightclub between suspected cult members. Alabi and Adewuyi, who were attending a friend’s birthday party nearby, left in a hurry. In the chaos, Alabi’s phone was lost.

Days later, the police retrieved the phone during a broader investigation into the club violence. To their surprise, the phone contained several explicit photos of Alabi and Adewuyi in intimate poses — evidence which police sources say triggered a new line of inquiry unrelated to the original cult probe.

According to a police report viewed by this publication, the material found on the phone allegedly contravenes sections of the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act. Authorities are also said to be reviewing past associations and correspondence found on the device.

Among those named in internal memos as “individuals of interest” are Mr. Moses Chukwudi (the former mathematics teacher), Abeeb Oladipupo (the former classmate), and photographer Eniola Adewuyi. While no formal charges have been made, insiders say the Nigeria Police Force is preparing a case dossier.

Declared Wanted — and Gone

Before the police could make a move, Alabi received a call from his landlord, who informed him that uniformed officers had visited their residence looking for him. The landlord allegedly ordered Alabi to vacate the premises immediately, citing fear of backlash from the community.