In response to circulating reports, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has vehemently denied allegations of visiting the embattled former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, at Kuje jail. The monarch’s spokesperson, Moses Olafare, clarified the purpose of the Ooni’s presence at the prison during a press statement on Wednesday.
According to Olafare, Oba Ogunwusi’s visit to Kuje jail was on behalf of the Hopes Alive Initiative (HAI), a non-governmental organization supporting the prison, which is owned by Queen Temitope, one of the Ooni’s wives. The event, organized in collaboration with the Kuje Correctional Administration, was designed to provide hope to prisoners concerning their reintegration into society after completing their sentences, coinciding with the Ooni’s eighth anniversary on the throne.
Olafare emphasized that the reports aiming to connect the Ooni’s visit with Godwin Emefiele were baseless attempts to blackmail the monarch. He clarified that the king did not meet with Emefiele during the official event organized by the NGO and the correctional center.
“The programme centers around giving hope to the inmate that, after serving out their terms, they still have hope to reintegrate back into society. The Arole Ooni was invited to chair the event in commemoration of his eighth anniversary on the throne,” stated Olafare.
He further urged caution in spreading falsehoods about individuals and emphasized the availability of a video of the event to the public. Olafare expressed doubt about Emefiele’s attendance, noting that the former CBN governor is currently in detention and not yet an inmate. He concluded that attempts to link the program to Emefiele were solely aimed at achieving blackmail.
