SOCIETY: OONI OF IFE SPEAKS ON VIRAL INTERNET MARRIAGE SCAM SAYS LADIES WHO ARE DESPERATE TO BE HIS QUEEN ARE FALLING VICTIM OF MARRIAGE SCAM

SOCIETY: OONI OF IFE SPEAKS ON VIRAL INTERNET MARRIAGE SCAM SAYS LADIES WHO ARE DESPERATE TO BE HIS QUEEN ARE FALLING VICTIM OF MARRIAGE SCAM - MOSES OLAFARE, OONI SPOKESMAN

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, on Wednesday, described as spurious and baseless the allegation that he swindled one Ms Fagbule in a $180,000 marriage scam.

Reacting to 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, Ooni 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.

“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 to draw 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.

“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? 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.” -the statement said.