Ooni’s palace denies the trending marriage story, calling it fake news. Learn the truth behind the viral rumor.
The Ooni of Ife, Osun State, has refuted claims of a marriage scam involving Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, dismissing the allegations as false. Moses Olafare, the Director of Media and Public Affairs at the Ooni’s Palace, addressed the issue concerning Ms. Fagbule, who reportedly fell victim to individuals posing as the Ooni and was defrauded of $180,000.
Olafare emphasized that the Palace is fully aware of the circulating fake news about Ms. Fagbule’s alleged victimization and stressed the concern over the increasing number of women falling prey to marriage frauds on the internet. Despite previous warnings to the public, especially women aspiring to become queens of the Ooni, the Palace expressed dismay at the continued exploitation of their vulnerability and desperation by online scammers.
Olafare expressed that despite the traditional practice of not responding to false information, it has become necessary to address the fake news spread through a Twitter account in order to alleviate the concerns of the Ooni’s supporters worldwide. The statement emphasized that the news posted by the Twitter handle ‘99% OPPRESSED’ is baseless and aimed at tarnishing the Ooni’s character for personal gain.
Furthermore, it was clarified that the individual named Ms. Fagbule had no prior association with the Ooni, including any form of communication or marriage proposal. The Ooni’s team also highlighted that he does not have a personal Facebook account and that the alleged marriage proposal letter circulating online is entirely fabricated.
Olafare also pointed out that instead of seeking professional investigation through appropriate channels such as the EFCC and the Police, Ms. Fagbule chose to escalate the matter on social media. He extended an invitation for her to visit the palace in Ile-Ife to meet the Ooni in person and seek his assistance, along with the involvement of law enforcement agencies to uncover the truth behind the allegations.
The official statement from the Ile Oodua Palace of the Ooni of Ife reiterated the palace’s position, emphasizing that the Ooni does not engage with individuals through the internet or social media platforms, nor does he appoint representatives to do so. The statement urged individuals worldwide to exercise caution in their interactions, especially on social media platforms.
The statement also addressed the circulation of a counterfeit letter in the media, clarifying that the Palace’s official letterhead is distinct and recognizable to corporate entities, public figures, and other recipients. It highlighted that the Ooni’s signature on official documents is as the ‘Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula’ and not as ‘His Imperial Majesty,’ as indicated in the forged letter.
Recent allegations made by an anonymous journalist on X accused the Ooni of Ife of defrauding a US doctor of $180,000 under the guise of investing in healthcare facilities in Southwest Nigeria. The claims further suggested that the Ooni terminated the relationship with the doctor when the agreed-upon investment did not materialize.
In a separate incident, a video surfaced in May 2024 featuring a middle-aged man who professed to be the son of the Ooni of Ife, expressing remorse to the traditional ruler. The man disclosed that the Ooni had instructed him and his mother to remain discreetly hidden, as detailed in the initial video statement.
