A desperate mother’s plea has thrust the prolonged detention of Nigerian singer Rollex Dee back into the spotlight, with alarming reports emerging that the artist is vomiting blood while in police custody. The former associate of popular fuji music star Taye Currency has been held by authorities since April 2026, and his family now fears for his life as his health allegedly deteriorates behind bars.
In a video that has circulated widely on social media, Rollex Dee’s mother made an emotional appeal to Nigerians, revealing that she received a distressing phone call two days ago informing her of her son’s critical condition. “Nigerians please come to my rescue. I received a call two days ago that my son was ill and vomiting blood. Please don’t let them my son in police custody,” she said, her voice breaking with anguish. The plea has reignited debates about the treatment of detainees and the circumstances surrounding the singer’s months long incarceration without apparent resolution.
Rollex Dee was arrested by the Oyo State Police Command in April 2026 following allegations that he defamed Taye Currency during an interview on the popular program Agbaletu. Officers from the command tracked the singer to Lagos after receiving a petition from the fuji star, according to an official statement posted on the police command’s social media platform. What began as a defamation case has now stretched into months of detention, raising questions about due process and the proportionality of the response to what many view as a dispute between artists.
Legal experts have expressed concern about the extended nature of Rollex Dee’s detention without trial, noting that prolonged custody for alleged defamation, a civil matter in many jurisdictions, appears excessive. While Nigerian law does provide provisions for criminal defamation, the months long hold has sparked public outcry from fans, civil rights advocates, and fellow entertainers who argue that the punishment appears disproportionate to the alleged offense. Human rights organizations have previously highlighted issues within Nigeria’s detention system, including overcrowding, inadequate medical care, and delays in bringing suspects before courts.
The entertainment industry has watched the case closely, particularly given the history between Rollex Dee and Taye Currency. Rollex Dee was once considered a loyalist of the fuji star, making their public falling out all the more dramatic. Celebrity feuds are not uncommon in Nigeria’s vibrant music scene, but the involvement of law enforcement and the criminal justice system in what many perceive as an interpersonal dispute has set an uncomfortable precedent. Fellow artists have largely remained silent on the matter, though some have privately expressed concerns about the chilling effect such arrests might have on artistic expression and freedom of speech.
As Rollex Dee’s health crisis unfolds, attention now turns to the Oyo State Police Command and the Nigerian justice system to respond to the family’s urgent plea. Medical care for detainees is a constitutional right in Nigeria, and authorities will face mounting pressure to provide transparent updates on the singer’s condition and either charge him formally or secure his release. Whether this case will prompt broader reforms in how defamation cases are handled, or how quickly suspects are brought to trial, remains to be seen. For now, a mother waits anxiously, hoping her son will emerge from custody alive and that justice, whatever form it takes, will be served swiftly.
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