Alleged $180,000 Scam, Ooni denies marriage proposal accusation, demands accuser’s arrest
The Palace of the Ooni of Ile-Ife has vehemently denied allegations circulating on social media about an alleged $180,000 fraud involving Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi.
In a statement issued to newsmen by the Director of Media and Public Affairs, Otunba Moses Olafare, on Thursday in Ile-Ife, the Palace addressed the “trending fake news about one Ms. Fagbule purportedly swindled of $180,000 allegedly by our father; Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, The Ooni of Ife.”
The statement expressed concern over the increasing number of women falling victim to online marriage scams, despite repeated warnings. The Palace emphasized that these scams often target women desperate to become queens of the Ooni and cautioned the public to beware of such fraudulent schemes.
“It is not in our tradition to respond to fake news like this posted and promoted by a criminal faceless source through Twitter (Now X) account,” the statement read. However, due to widespread concern and to clarify the situation, the Palace felt compelled to respond.
The Palace made the following assertions:
“The news posted by a Twitter (now X) handle called “99% OPPRESSED” is “fake, untrue and absolutely an unfounded allegation only adopted as a nugatory character assassination tactic aimed at achieving a cheap popularity with a view to drawing huge followers/traffic for avaricious monetization from Twitter (X)”.
“Ms. Fagbule is not known to the Ooni of Ife in any capacity, nor has she ever been promised a marriage proposal by him. Furthermore, Ooni Adeyeye does not personally operate any Facebook account.
“The Palace operates as an institutional organization with a functional media directorate that handles the Ooni’s social media presence. If Ms. Fagbule were genuinely from Osun State or Ile-Ife, she could have visited the Palace in person during their alleged relationship.
“Instead of approaching relevant authorities like the EFCC and the Police for a professional investigation, Ms. Fagbule chose to create a social media uproar.”
The statement questioned why Ms. Fagbule did not engage credible media organizations or human rights groups known for their dedication to justice, such as CDHR or Femi Falana Chambers. Instead, she relied on an anonymous Twitter handler, “99% OPPRESSED.” The Palace denounced the letter of marriage proposal shared on Twitter as a “fabrication of lies,” noting discrepancies in the letterhead and language used.
Otunba Moses Olafare emphasized the Ooni’s status and wealth, highlighting that the idea of him soliciting money from a woman in exchange for marriage is absurd. “With the Ooni’s status in wealth, business success, philanthropy, and highly revered royalty, to allege or even suggest that he would be collecting money from any lady for travel expenses and others in exchange for marriage with a huge portfolio of billions of Naira being handled by Ooni Ogunwusi for humanity can only be viewed by reasonable people in the society as a figment of the imagination of Mrs. Fagbule and her social media Messiah (99% Oppressed).”
The Palace invited Ms. Fagbule to visit Ile-Ife and meet the Ooni in person, along with law enforcement agencies, to address her allegations and identify the true perpetrators.
Finally, the Palace reiterated its advice to the public to exercise caution in their online interactions, stressing that the Ooni does not engage with anyone via social media nor appoint proxies to do so. It clarified that the Palace’s official letterhead is distinctive and familiar to corporate bodies and recipients, contrasting with the fake letter circulated.
