The Palace of the Ooni of Ife, located in Osun State, has strongly refuted recent allegations of a marriage scam involving the monarch, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi. The palace described these accusations as “fake news.”
In an official statement released to PUNCH Online on Thursday, Moses Olafare, the Director of Media and Public Affairs at the Ooni’s Palace, addressed claims that Ms. Fagbule had been swindled out of $180,000 by individuals impersonating the 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.”
Despite the palace’s usual policy of not responding to such allegations, Olafare emphasized the need for this clarification due to widespread concerns among the Ooni’s subjects, friends, and supporters. He stated that the news, originally posted by a Twitter (now X) handle called ‘99% OPPRESSED,’ is a baseless attempt at character assassination.
The statement clarified that the alleged Ms. Fagbule had no known connection with the Ooni, either personally or through any form of communication, and that the Ooni does not use personal Facebook accounts. The letter of marriage proposal circulating online was described as a complete 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.
He invited Ms. Fagbule to visit the palace in Ile-Ife to seek assistance from the Ooni and law enforcement agencies in uncovering the perpetrators of the fraud.
Reaffirming the palace’s position, 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.
The palace highlighted that its official letterhead is distinctive and recognized by corporate bodies and individuals, and the Ooni’s signature is uniquely identified as ‘Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula’ and not ‘His Imperial Majesty.’
The allegations originated from an anonymous journalist on X, who claimed that the Ooni had scammed a US doctor of $180,000. It was also alleged that the Ooni cut ties with the doctor after a failed investment deal.
In May 2024, a middle-aged man claimed in a viral video that he was the son of the Ooni of Ife, apologizing to the monarch and alleging that the Ooni had instructed him to stay discreet with his mother.