Nigerian rapper and singer Panshak Zamani, better known as Ice Prince, has shared a deeply personal account of his six-day ordeal at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre in Lagos. The 37-year-old artist, who was remanded in custody in September 2022, opened up about his harrowing experience behind bars, describing it as a “horrible” and eye-opening chapter in his life.
Ice Prince, renowned for his chart-topping hits and celebrity status, was arrested following allegations of assaulting a police officer. He was subsequently detained at Ikoyi Prison, where he faced a challenging and often humbling environment that starkly contrasted his life as a public figure.
A Brush with the Law: The Arrest
The rapper’s legal troubles began in September 2022, when he was apprehended by police officers after a dramatic incident during a routine stop-and-search operation in Lagos. According to police reports, Ice Prince allegedly assaulted an officer during the encounter and drove off in his vehicle without cooperating with the authorities. The arrest was widely covered in the media, and Ice Prince was charged with assaulting a police officer, obstruction, and resisting arrest.
In a recent interview, Ice Prince addressed the incident, describing it as a misunderstanding. He explained that his actions during the police stop were not meant to escalate into a confrontation. Instead, he claimed that he had been joking with the officer when he drove off, which he now sees as a mistake.
“It was a misunderstanding. I was joking with the police officer when I drove off. It wasn’t meant to go that way, but it did. The case is over now, and I can talk about it,” Ice Prince explained. “I didn’t mean any harm, but mistakes like that can take you to places you never imagined.”
Life Behind Bars: A Humbling Experience
Despite his fame and fortune, Ice Prince’s six-day stint at Ikoyi Prison was a sobering reminder of the harsh realities faced by many Nigerians incarcerated in the country’s overcrowded and underfunded prison system. Reflecting on his time in the facility, the rapper revealed that he was treated like every other inmate, with no special treatment afforded to him due to his celebrity status.
“It’s a prison, so there was no preferential treatment,” Ice Prince said. “Whatever story you were told is not what happened. I spent six days in jail, and it was just like being any other inmate. I didn’t get any special privileges. People often talk about being in police cells and bragging as if they’ve been to prison, but trust me, if you’ve never been to prison, you haven’t seen anything yet. It’s a whole different world.”
Ice Prince’s description of the prison environment paints a grim picture of the challenges faced by inmates. He revealed that the conditions in Ikoyi Prison were far from ideal, with overcrowding, inadequate resources, and a general sense of despair. Despite these harsh conditions, the rapper noted that the experience provided him with a unique opportunity to reflect on life and form unexpected connections with fellow inmates.
“I don’t pray for my worst enemy to experience it,” Ice Prince continued. “There are so many innocent people in there. It wasn’t a good experience at all. But, at the same time, I made friends in there. We hung out, chatted, and shared stories. It’s a different institution of higher learning. You learn a lot about life, humanity, and survival in prison.”
A New Perspective on Life
While Ice Prince’s prison experience was undeniably difficult, he emphasized how the time behind bars gave him a fresh perspective on life. The rapper spoke candidly about the emotional and social challenges of incarceration, noting that it was a transformative experience that opened his eyes to the struggles faced by many people in the criminal justice system.
“It’s a humbling experience,” Ice Prince admitted. “You realize how much you take for granted when you’re out here. Prison changes you. It makes you see the world differently. You’re not in control of your life, and that’s something I never want to experience again. It taught me to appreciate my freedom, my family, and everything I have.”
During his time in prison, Ice Prince also witnessed the plight of many other inmates who had been incarcerated for minor offenses or were awaiting trial. This experience left a lasting impression on him, further fueling his desire to use his platform to speak out against the injustices within the Nigerian criminal justice system.
“There are so many innocent people in there,” Ice Prince said. “People who are just stuck in the system, waiting for justice that may never come. It’s heartbreaking. I was lucky enough to have the resources to get out, but many others aren’t. That’s something we need to change.”
