By Halimah Olamide
Prominent traditional ruler, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi has on Wednesday denied visiting the embattled former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, in the Kuje Correctional Centre where he is being kept.
Words had gone round on Tuesday that the monarch had visited Emefiele creating ripples in many quarters about his mission. But in a statement denying the reported visit, his spokesman, Moses Olafare, said the report was the figment of the imagination of those allegedly peddling it.
The statement explained that Ooni was at the facility to secure the humanitarian release of five inmates who were unable to pay their fines/bail fees.
The statement 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.
“Addressing the gathering of inmates and prison’s officials after being welcomed into the facility by officers of the Nigeria Correctional Service, Ooni Ogunwusi who was flanked by his Queen & Deputy Convener of Hopes Alive Initiative HAI Olori Temitope Enitan-Ogunwusi, explained that the best part of human life is the one spent to serve others particularly the poor and vulnerable individuals.
“Highpoint of the event was when five (5) 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.
“In the same vein, parts of the statement said 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.