The two Nigerian brothers being questioned over the Jussie Smollett attack are actors Abimbola ‘Abel’ and Olabinjo ‘Ola’ Osundairo.
They have not been charged (yet) and are their lawyer insists they are not the people who attacked Jussie — but revealed they’re all three friends.
Jussie follows Abel on Instagram where Abel recently shared a video of himself posing to one of Jussie’s songs.
Police on Friday, however, said they have been arrested for battery and are now being treated as ‘potential suspects’ instead of just ‘persons of interest’.
NEW: Chicago police update Smollett case and now call 2 men being questioned suspects. “Detectives have probable cause that they may have been involved in an alleged crime and we are working to corroborate the allegations and investigative timeline”.
— Rob Elgas (@RobElgasABC7) February 15, 2019
BREAKING: The two potential suspects in the Smollet investigation ARE under arrest. They are not able to leave; police have them under arrest.
— Rob Elgas (@RobElgasABC7) February 15, 2019
It has been confirmed by police that Abimbola and Olabinjo are indeed the two men seen who were seen in surveillance camera footage walking near the area of the attack at around that same time.
On Good Morning America, Jussie said that he had ‘no doubt’ the people in the video were the men who punched him, tied a noose around his neck and poured bleach on him.
In a statement issued Friday, police say:
“Interviews will resume today with the two people of interest and their attorney. While we haven’t found any video documenting the alleged attack, there is also no evidence to say that this is a hoax. The alleged victim is being cooperative at this time and continues to be treated as the victim, not a suspect. The investigation continues.”
The investigation continues…
