Shockwaves are reverberating across Yorùbáland and the global Yorùbá diaspora following the sudden death of the Baba Ọba (King’s Father) of the famed Oyotunji African Village in South Carolina, USA. The late Baba Ọba, Lukman Arohunfale, a revered socialite and traditionalist, passed away under circumstances already sparking fierce controversy. His death comes just days after he publicly accused the newly installed Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty Oba Akeem Adéyẹmọ Owoade, of allegedly ordering his courtiers to beat him mercilessly during a recent courtesy visit to the Oyo palace in Nigeria. In a widely circulated voice recording, the deceased recounted how what was meant to be a simple homage turned violent. Although the Baba Ọba had reportedly battled ill health in the past year, growing insinuations suggest that the alleged physical assault may have aggravated his condition, ultimately leading to his untimely death. The palace in Oyo recently denied that s...
The police have arrested the financier of Magico Football Academy in Agege, Lagos, for allegedly shaving the pubic hair of five teenage boys.
Victor Achidume, 43, was apprehended after one of the children identified as Oluwaseun, 11, fell ill and told his parents that the suspect had shaved his pubic hair six times.
According to Oluwaseun, the last time Achidume shaved his armpit and private parts was on May 9. The suspect, he claimed, usually warned him not to tell his parents each time he did it.
The boy said: “We do not belong to his team. We met him during a football match and he invited us to his house. He used to talk about football to us and he used to dash us N100 or N200.
“He told us to be coming to his house every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I went with my friends the first time. He asked me if I had shaved my armpit and private parts before, I said no. And then, he shaved it. He was talking about football as he was doing it. Then, he said I should not tell anyone and that I should be coming to his place to collect N100.”
Another child, Oluwadare, 15, who said the suspect also asked him if he had shaved his pubic hair before, told our correspondent that Achidume left him after he answered in the affirmative.
He said: “The man used to give us money every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. When we come, he will tell some people to come on Tuesday and Thursday.
“The first day he saw me, he asked for my name and about three weeks later, he asked me if I was at puberty stage. I said no. He said he wanted to check it and when he checked it, he asked if I have shaved it before.
“I said yes I have. So, he said I should not worry. But my friends said they have not shaved before. The man shaved Oluwaseun’s hair six times and he shaved Damilare’s armpit twice. He told us that no one should know he usually asked such questions. We are not in his academy. His house is at Alagba Estate.”
But the suspect denied the allegations, insisting that the kids have never been inside his house.
Achidume said he was shocked by the allegations, adding that he only helped the children by giving them money regularly.
He said: “These kids are not even in my team. They have never been to my house. I used to throw money to them from the balcony. They used to complain that their parents do not give them money for food and that they do not buy books for them.
“It is untrue that I took them into my house. I play with my team on Saturdays. I do not see them during week days because I go to work.
“I told the mothers of these children that I have three kids and that if I did anything wrong to their children, let me lose mine before my eyes. But, if I did not, their children will die before their eyes.
“The women should tell their children to confess how all these came about. The children are here; do they look like people losing weight? How can someone just raise false allegations against me to ruin my life?
“I manage over 80 kids through my coach and no one has ever complained of such about me. They have disgraced me but the God that I serve will vindicate me. I do not know why they did this but I believe God knows best. Life is mysterious and this is a mystery only God can unravel.”
The Nation
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