The Palace of the Ooni of Ife, Osun State has denied allegations of a marriage scam involving the monarch, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, describing the story as fake news.
In a statement sent to PUNCH Online on Thursday the Director of Media and Public Affairs at the Ooni’s Palace, Moses Olafare, addressed the claims involving Ms. Fagbule, who was allegedly swindled of $180,000 by individuals impersonating Ooni.
Olafare stated, “The Palace of the Ooni of Ife is not unaware of a trending fake news about one Ms. Fagbule purportedly swindled of $180,000 allegedly by our father, Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi.
“It is worrisome the level at which ladies have been making themselves victims of marriage frauds on the internet despite our several warnings to the general public, particularly ladies whose ultimate ambition is to become queens of the Ooni, to beware of internet marriage proposal scammers who capitalize on their gullibility and desperation.”
Olafare continued, “Even though it is not in our tradition to respond to fake news like this, posted and promoted by a criminal faceless source through a Twitter (now X) account, it has become imperative to make this response for necessary clarifications in order to calm the inundation of genuine concerns expressed by subjects, friends, and lovers of the Ooni globally.
“The news as posted by a Twitter (now X) handle called ‘99% OPPRESSED’ is fake, untrue, and an unfounded allegation adopted as a character assassination tactic aimed at achieving cheap popularity.”
The statement further clarified that the alleged Ms. Fagbule was never known to the Ooni for any interpersonal communication or relationship, let alone a marriage proposal.
It also highlighted that the Ooni does not operate any personal Facebook account and that the purported letter of marriage proposal shared online was a fabrication.
“Rather than taking her matter to appropriate agencies like the EFCC and the Police for professional investigation, she chose to make it a social media brouhaha,” Olafare noted.
“If she truly has a genuine case of marriage proposal fraud, she is hereby invited to the palace in Ile-Ife to physically meet the Ooni for his fatherly assistance and the help of law enforcement agencies to uncover the perpetrators,” he added.
Reaffirming the palace’s stance, the statement concluded, “For the umpteenth time, the Ile Oodua Palace of the Ooni of Ife wishes to advise all persons globally to be cautious in their engagements, particularly on social media, as the Ooni does not interface with anyone via the internet/social media or appoint proxies to do so.
“Contrary to the fake letter being dangled as evidence in the media, the Palace’s letterhead is unique and familiar to corporate bodies, personalities, and other recipients, with the Ooni’s signature as the ‘Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula’ and not ‘His Imperial Majesty’.”
An anonymous journalist via a post on X, had alleged that the Ooni scammed the US doctor of $180,000 after the latter expressed interest in building hospitals in some Southwest states in Nigeria.
It was also alleged that Ooni severed ties with the US doctor after he failed to make the investment as earlier agreed by the duo.
In May, 2024, a middle-aged man claimed in a viral video that he is a son of the Ooni of Ife apologised to the foremost traditional ruler.
In the first video, the man claimed the monarch hid him with his mother with an instruction that he should stay discreetly.