The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has denied viral media reports that he visited the former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, in Kuje prison in Abuja.
There were several reports on social media that the Oba Ogunwusi had visited Emefiele who was in the correctional facility on Tuesday.
According to the report, the monarch in company of his Queen, Temitope, visited the custodial facility to secure the release of some prison inmates and ‘possibly’ plead for the ex-banker’s release.
Reacting to the development in a statement signed by the Director, Media and Public Affairs, Ooni’s Palace, Moses Olafare said the monarch purely visited the custodial facility as part of activities to mark his 8th annual coronation anniversary.
Olafare dismissed the reports that the monarch was at the facility to pay a visit to Emefiele but on an advocacy programme at the correctional centre.
He said: “The Arole Oduduwa & Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, kickstarted his annual coronation anniversary with a humanitarian visit to the Kuje Correctional facility in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory.
“Ooni Ogunwusi who is the Co-Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria was on an official duty in the F.C.T. when he decided to visit inmates at the facility for a programme organized by Hopes Alive Initiative (HAI) under his Chairmanship to motivate those who are often ignored by the society.”
According to him, Ooni Ogunwusi was flanked by his Queen & Deputy Convener of Hopes Alive Initiative, Olori Temitope Enitan-Ogunwusi.
Olafare said at the event was five inmates were freed after fulfilling all requirements including payment of bail/fines through the assistance of the HAI, with a promise to keep an eye on them and also empowering them in the trade they learned while in the Correctional Centre.
He added, ” the Palace is not unaware of false, malicious and misleading reportage particularly by some unprofessional bloggers and armchair journalists about the event which does not tally with the event or any of its realities.
“These purveyors of fake news who are bent on blackmailing top personalities for income (Online traffic), prominence or whatever reasons predetermined by them wrote nonsense from the figment of their imagination and got it circulated by armchair (lazy) journalists with no regard for principles, laws and ethics of the prestigious pen profession.
“The Ooni’s Hopes Alive Initiative (HAI) has in the last five years engaged in the charity work which targets to give hope to the hopeless and vulnerable members of the society. Ooni Ogunwusi through the NGO has donated befitting homes to the orphanage and destitute, water borehole facilities to several market’s across the South West in Nigeria, educational materials to several schools in the country.”
