Ooni of Ife disowns alleged impostor claiming to be his son
By Innocent Raphael
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has formally disowned an individual who recently claimed to be his son on social media.
The emergence of a viral video featuring a grown man purporting to be the monarch’s offspring, expressing discontent with his purported obscurity and vowing to visit the palace, stirred controversy.
Responding to the situation, the palace issued a statement through spokesperson Moses Olafare, denouncing the individual’s claim as shameless and fraudulent.
“It is imperative to clarify that the Ooni of Ife, as a responsible father and custodian of tradition, knows and acknowledges all his children and stops at nothing to take full responsibilities over them(both those who are in Nigeria and outside the country).
“As all of Ooni’s children are well known to the palace and the people of Ile-Ife, the eldest child of the Ooni is Princess Adeola Ogunwusi, a Master Degree holder working and residing in Canada, followed by Princess Adewamiwa Ogunwusi who recently relocated to further her education in Dublin, Ireland from where she had come 3 years ago for her secondary school education in her home country Nigeria.
“Princess Adesewa is doing very well, Prince Tadenikawo Ogunwusi is widely known to be with his mother hale and healthy while the new born twins Prince Adebisi Kehinde and Princess Taiwo Adeayo are being planned to formally make their historic entry into the palace in a couple of days in accordance with the customs and traditions of the Ife Palace.
“We hereby declare with no equivocation that this self acclaimed prince is unknown to the Palace and the Ile-Ife populace. Not only he is not a child of Ooni Ogunwusi as fraudulently claimed, but also never related in any way to any lineage of the Ogunwusi royal family and the Giesi Royal Compound of Ile-Ife at large.
“His marauding impersonation tactics to exploit the revered status of the Ooni of Ife for fraudulent personal gains is not only sacrilegious but also criminal in nature. Impersonation of any member of the royal family is a sacrilege against the sanctity of the palace and the heritage it represents,” the statement read in part.
The statement emphasized that the person in question is not recognized by the palace nor is he related to the Ogunwusi royal family.
Calling for a thorough investigation by security agencies, particularly the Nigerian Police Force and Department of State Security (DSS), the palace urged swift action to bring the perpetrator to justice.
“While the Palace leaves no stone unturned to go after this criminal using all possible means to scapegoat him with a view to making him face the law for necessary deterrence, we here urge the law enforcement agencies, particularly the Nigerian Police Force and Department of State Security (DSS), to thoroughly investigate this matter and bring the perpetrator to justice as swiftly as possible.
“In assisting the law enforcement agencies on this project, any individual with useful information pertaining to the whereabouts of this impersonating marauder is implored to cooperate fully with the security authorities or the Ooni’s Palace to ensure that justice prevails as such a patriotic whistleblower’s identity is well protected in utmost secrecy and handsomely rewarded by the Ooni’s palace. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!,” it added.
The royal family further encouraged anyone with relevant information to come forward, assuring confidentiality and potential rewards for cooperation.
