The Palace of the Ooni of Ife in Osun State, Nigeria has vehemently refuted claims circulating online of a marriage scam involving Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, dismissing the accusations as baseless and fabricated.
In an official statement released to newsmen on Thursday, July 18, 2024, Moses Olafare, the Director of Media and Public Affairs at the Ooni’s Palace, addressed the controversy surrounding allegations against Ms. Fagbule, who reportedly lost $180,000 to individuals impersonating the monarch.
“The Palace of the Ooni of Ife is aware of a trending fake news alleging that Ms. Fagbule was swindled of $180,000 by our revered monarch, Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi,” Olafare stated.
Expressing concern over the increasing cases of online marriage scams, especially targeting those aspiring to become queens of the Ooni, Olafare emphasized the need for caution in online interactions.
“While we do not usually respond to such false claims propagated by anonymous sources on social media platforms like Twitter (now X), we find it necessary to issue this clarification to allay genuine concerns from the Ooni’s subjects and well-wishers worldwide,” he added.
The statement clarified that Ms. Fagbule had no known relationship or communication with the Ooni, let alone any marriage proposal. It also refuted the authenticity of a purported marriage proposal letter shared online, asserting that the Ooni does not operate personal social media accounts or authorize proxies to engage on his behalf.
“Instead of resorting to social media, Ms. Fagbule is encouraged to bring her case to appropriate authorities such as the EFCC and the Police for thorough investigation,” Olafare urged.
The Palace reiterated its commitment to cautioning the public against falling victim to online scams, underscoring the authenticity of official communications from the Ile Oodua Palace.
“For clarity, the official letterhead of the Palace bears the unique insignia and signature of the Ooni as ‘Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula’, distinct from any misleading claims circulated in the media,” the statement concluded.
