Reacting to a trending news on social media, the monarch cautioned women to avoid making themselves victims of internet marriage fraud.
According to a statement by his Director of Media and Public Affairs, Moses Olafare, the Ife monarch said, “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 by all means.
“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 the genuine concerns expressed by subjects, friends and lovers of the Ooni globally on this matter.
“The following assertions are hereby made for necessary clarifications: That the news as 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 cheap popularity with a view to drawing huge followers/traffic for avaricious monetisation from Twitter (X).
“That the so-called Ms Fagbule was and is never known to the Ooni of Ife for any interpersonal communication or relationship whatsoever, talk less of being so promised with a marriage proposal.
“Ooni Adeyeye does not operate any Facebook accounts personally. He runs the palace as an institutional organisation with a functional media directorate, which has a section that operates his social media handles – Instagram, Facebook etc,” the statement read in part.
Mr Ogunwusi asked that if the alleged victim is from Osun State or Ile-Ife in particular, why didn’t she come to the palace to meet him in person throughout the so-called relationship?
“Rather than taking her matter to the appropriate agencies like EFCC and the Police for professional investigation, which could have adequately helped her, she chose to make it a social media brouhaha.
“If, for whatever reason, she had preferred social media to the Police and EFCC who are professionally trained, shouldn’t she have engaged a credible mainstream media organisation – print and electronic, or consulted credible Human Right crusaders like CDHR, Femi Falana Chambers and their likes in the country, who undoubtedly possess tested capacity and passion for applying principles of justice and fairness in their efforts of thorough investigation in any matter of injustice against the oppressed,” the Ooni further asked.
The monarch described the said letter of marriage shared on social media as a fabrication of lies.
He affirmed that the letterhead used for the letter does not reflect the originality of the palace’s official letterhead, adding that the body of the letter does not also grammatically reflect letters he personally signs.
“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.
“If the lady truly has a genuine case of marriage proposal fraud against anyone, whether or not it affects the name of the Ooni, she is hereby invited to the palace in Ile-Ife to physically meet the Ooni for fatherly assistance, and with the help of the law enforcement agencies to uncover the perpetrators of this inhuman crime against her,” the statement highlighted.
It will be recalled that a certain investigative journalist, PidomNigeria, has accused the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi, of allegedly scamming a Nigerian woman of $180,000.
The journalist known on X as PIDOMNIGERIA said the woman is a doctor, who has been practicing in the US for 16 years, and wanted to establish hospitals in Nigeria to provide free medical services.
According to PIDOMNIGERIA, the US-based Nigerian doctor planned to organize free medical services for women and children in Ile-Ife.
Upon seeking guidance, the woman was advised to contact the Ooni of Ife, known for his influence.
She reportedly reached out to the monarch via Facebook, and he responded positively, offering support and suggesting she set up her hospital along the Lagos-Ibadan axis.
Trusting his status, the doctor began sending money to accounts allegedly provided by the Ooni, supposedly to start the project.
However, it turned out to be a scam, involving multiple bank transfers to proxies in the US and Nigeria.
PidomNigeria has promised to share detailed evidence, including private messages, bank transfers, and recorded calls.
The doctor, who has not visited Nigeria throughout this ordeal, attempted to recover her money through legal channels in Nigeria but was unsuccessful.
The journalist said the case is now being pursued in the US, adding that the full story, with evidence, will be shared over the next six weeks.
“A Nigerian Doctor who has spent 16 years in the US practicing, wanted to give back to her father land, despite the fact that she is a full-fledged US citizen. She is from Osun state, Ile-Ife to be precise.
“Her life dream was to set up hospitals across Nigeria, where she can render free medical services, starting from her own state of Osun.
“But in order to introduce herself to her people, and to also gain their trust and confidence, she decided to organize free medical service for women and children of IIe-Ife, by coming from the US, with a team of doctors to treat different illness in Ile-ife.
“From there she will proceed to set up the hospital in the town. But as someone who has left for so long, she don’t know how to go about it. She needed the help and direction of someone who is on ground.
“On inquiry, they told her the Ooni of Ife, is the best person to contact for her project. That one, he is young, and he has got great influence. That he will easily key into her dreams, since it will be beneficial to his people and his Kingdom at large.
“She got the direct Facebook account of the Ooni, and messaged him. She introduced herself, then told the Ooni her reason for reaching out to him.
“Few hours later, Kabiyesi replied, and called her video call live from the palace. He said he wanted to be sure, he is speaking with the right person.
“They had a lengthy conversation, he prayed and blessed her.
Kabiyesi told her he loves her dreams, and will be giving her all the needed support. That she should set up the hospital along the Lagos Ibadan axis, where there are frequent accidents every now and then. That there are no good hospitals around, so such idea of her’s will be a fantastic one. That she should could even set up an helipad in her hospital, so emergency cases from other states can be airlifted directly into her hospital. That he will help her to facilitate it.
“She was so happy with the wonderful additions of Ooni. Moreover no one disrespects, doubts or suspects a Kabiyesi.
So the doctor believed and swallowed everything from Kabiyesi hook line and sinker, without an atom of doubt.
“Kabiyesi now took advantage of that to start his series of scamming sprees, that i will be posting evidence one after the other. From private messages, to bank accounts of the proxies he uses, to Forged documents, to receipts of transfers, to recorded private audio calls, to series of threats, and failed promises. Even very dark private damning information.
“I will also tell you how this woman used all the legitimate available avenues in Nigeria to get back her money, but they all killed the case.
“Kabiyesi asked her to send money in order to begin the process. He gave her bank accounts of his proxies in the US, and that of Nigeria.
“The doctor started sending money to his pickers in the US, and in Nigeria. She was doing direct wire transfer left, right and centre.
“The +++ was working perfectly on her, as she kept paying. I have all the accounts she did payments to, and the corresponding message from Kabiyesi. I will post them.
“Follow this story, it will be a very long read for six weeks, with lots of facts and evidence. I will be sharing receipts with
@DavidHundeyin @fisayosoyombo @SamuelOgundipe @jacksonpbn @Mazi_OJD @UnlimitedEniola, different bloggers and media houses.
“The victim will do series of video explanations, that i will post. She will also speak live on X (Twitter) space for the whole world to listen.
“Other avenues are currently being explored in the US on this case. (Enough is Enough). He wrote.