A Lagos-based TikToker, Mirabel, popularly known by her handle @mirab351, is at the center of a growing controversy following allegations that she fabricated a rape claim and participated in an impersonation scheme aimed at implicating a young businessman, Mr. Godwin Maduagu. The claims, which have triggered widespread public reaction and a police petition, are now the subject of formal investigation by the Nigerian Police Force.
The controversy began after Mirabel posted a series of emotional videos on TikTok alleging that she was sexually assaulted on February 15. In the videos, she claimed that an unidentified man forced his way into her apartment, restrained her, and threatened her with impunity, allegedly boasting that his family’s influence would shield him from prosecution.
The videos quickly gained traction on social media, drawing sympathy from viewers and prompting calls for justice. The situation escalated when the Lagos State government issued a public notice urging anyone with information about the alleged perpetrator to come forward.
However, the narrative took a dramatic turn when Alexander Akujieze, legal counsel to Mr. Godwin Maduagu, spoke exclusively to SaharaReporters, alleging that the rape claim was linked to a calculated impersonation plot involving a fake TikTok account created to frame his client.
According to Akujieze, events unfolded rapidly following the government’s public notice. “On Sunday, the lady posted the video alleging she was raped. Like many others, I saw it,” he said. “Then on Monday morning, the Lagos State government published a statement asking anyone with information about the alleged rapist to report to the authorities.”
Akujieze explained that later that same Monday, his client received a WhatsApp message from a friend alerting him to suspicious activity on TikTok. The friend reportedly informed Maduagu that unknown individuals were attempting to set him up by creating a fake account using his name and photographs.
“In that WhatsApp message, his friend claimed that somebody or people were trying to set him up,” Akujieze said. “He told him to urgently check TikTok because someone had opened a fake account and uploaded his picture.”
The fake account, allegedly operating under the name “Priston,” began reposting Maduagu’s photographs multiple times. Akujieze claimed the impersonator went further by adding Maduagu’s official TikTok handle to the fake profile’s bio, creating the impression of authenticity.
More troubling, according to the lawyer, was that the impersonator allegedly commented publicly using the fake account and claimed responsibility for the rape. At roughly the same time, Mirabel posted screenshots of a message she claimed was sent by her attacker.
“The fake account went as far as commenting and saying he was the one that raped,” Akujieze alleged. “And that was the same day the girl claimed that the rapist sent her a message.”
Akujieze pointed out what he described as a significant similarity: the name attached to the alleged message sent to Mirabel matched the name of the fake TikTok account—“Priston.”
“Now, if you look at the message she claimed the rapist sent, you will see the same name, Priston—the same fake account,” he said.
Mirabel had shared screenshots of a message purportedly sent by her attacker, in which the sender allegedly described the assault and made disturbing remarks about the incident. According to Akujieze, the tone and writing style of the message raised red flags for his legal team.
“She came back on social media claiming that the rapist had sent her a ‘review’ of how the crime went,” he said. “People grew sympathetic.”
The public response was swift and intense. Social media users reportedly flooded Maduagu’s TikTok page with insults, threats, and accusations. Akujieze said his client was devastated by the backlash.
“A lot of people went to my client’s profile and started raining insults, abuses, even threats to his life,” he said. “He was completely shaken by what was happening.”
Akujieze further alleged that upon examining the screenshots posted by Mirabel, his law firm observed similarities between the writing style of the alleged rapist’s message and Mirabel’s own posts on her TikTok profile.
“As a law firm experienced in criminal matters, we looked closely at the way the message was written,” he explained. “We compared it to her normal writing style on her page—her day-to-day posts—and noticed similarities in structure and expression.”
He claimed that Mirabel frequently uses distinctive repetitive phrasing in her content, which he believes appeared in the alleged message from the supposed attacker.
Beyond the social media dimension, Akujieze linked the incident to an ongoing criminal case involving his client. According to him, Maduagu is the complainant in a separate matter in which two individuals were arraigned in December 2025 at Court 9 in Apapa.
“They came to attack him in his house,” Akujieze alleged. “When they were arraigned in December, they threatened fire and brimstone. They even tried to use connections to frustrate the case.”
He suggested that the current controversy might be an attempt to retaliate against Maduagu by damaging his reputation.
“Now that they think the government is not interested, they may want to use this to set him up,” he said.
On February 17, 2026, Maduagu, through his counsel, filed a formal petition with the Area Commander of Area E Command, Nigerian Police Force. The petition accused persons unknown of impersonation and attempting to falsely implicate him in the rape allegation.
In the petition, Maduagu was described as “a young businessman and a law-abiding citizen” who operates a TikTok account under his registered name. The document detailed how a friend identified as “Nuel” alerted him via WhatsApp that someone was using his name and photos to taunt a rape victim online.
The petition alleged that the impersonator, using the handle @Priston1866, repeatedly reposted Maduagu’s pictures and linked his official TikTok account in the bio section of the fake profile. As a result, Maduagu reportedly faced harassment and abuse from members of the public.
The petition also expressed suspicion that the two individuals previously charged in December 2025 may be responsible for the impersonation, citing alleged threats they made following their arraignment.
Akujieze stated that the petition was delivered directly to the Area Commander the same day it was drafted. According to him, the commander reviewed the documents and indicated awareness of the situation.
“The Area Commander looked at it and said he knows what is going on,” Akujieze claimed. He further alleged that the commander remarked that the case might not be as it appears and suggested that investigations could reveal surprising findings.
However, Akujieze acknowledged that the public attention surrounding the case has complicated matters.
“The commander said his hands were tied because the matter is already in the public domain,” he said. “But he assured us that investigations would commence.”
As of the time of reporting, police authorities have not publicly released findings from their investigation, and Mirabel has not responded to the allegations of fabrication and impersonation.
The case underscores the complex interplay between social media, public opinion, and criminal justice in the digital age. Allegations can spread rapidly online, often before authorities have completed investigations, potentially causing irreparable damage to reputations.
With both sides presenting sharply conflicting accounts, the outcome of the police inquiry will likely determine whether the allegations of rape, impersonation, or malicious framing hold legal weight. Until then, the matter remains a developing story with significant implications for all parties involved.
