The Nigerian police have arrested Chief Adeyinka Adesina Akofe Obawale , a Nigerian traditionalist, for impersonating a Yoruba monarch in Brazil. Chief Adeyinka Adesina Akofe Obawale who traveled to Brazil to promote the Oje kingdom has been accused of parading himself as Arole Oje, claiming to be the Olu Oje of Oje Kingdom, which is one of the lineages of Orunmila’s descendants.
Reports from Osogbo, where the suspect is currently detained, indicate that H.R.M Oba Sikiru Adeyeba Adeniji , Ompetu Olojudo, ldo, lfe and the supreme head of Oje Kingdom , officially reported to Nigerian authorities that Chief Adeyinka Adesina Akofe was never crowned as a king in any Yoruba or Oje kingdom. He accused the detained individual of impersonating the Olu Oje to gain advantages within the Brazilian society of Traditionalists.
The police have charged the chief with five counts, including threats to lives and impersonation of traditional authorities in diaspora
According to sources , during his visit to Brazil, Chief Adeyinka actively promoted Yoruba culture, making visits to houses of assemblies, places of Ifa Orisa worship, colleges, events, and parades. He had previously presented photographs claiming he was crowned by the Ompetu Olujudo, a claim that the Onipetu now disputes.
Speaking to Ancestral News after the arrest on October 5th, the Ompetu Olujudo stated that Adeyinka Akofe is not a true reflection of a Yoruba Oba and detailed his history of impersonation in various roles.
Videos and audio recordings shared with Ancestral News revealed that the arrested chief had also threatened to harm the families of another individual, Chief Fatai Toromade, in Osogbo, Nigeria.
Information from the Osogbo police department reveals that the accused, currently incarcerated in Osogbo, is scheduled to appear before a court of law on October 13, 2023.
According to the Onipetu, the supreme head of the Oje kingdom, Oba Sikiru Adeyeba Adeniyi , Ompetu Olujudo , Ife , responding to the picture where he was seen apparently crowning the alleged counterfeit monarch Chief Adeyinka Akofe, he stated, “I was unaware that he was an imposter. He appeared in my palace during my 50th birthday and requested my blessings. I merely used my crown to offer a prayer for him, unaware that he would later use such a picture to falsely claim that I crowned him. He has been conferring titles as if he were a monarch. If I ever did crown him, he should provide evidence to the police,” the Onipetu remarked.
Fatah Toromade, an advocate for culture and tradition who frequently travels between Osogbo and Brazil, recently shared a deeply concerning incident with an Ancestral News correspondent in Nigeria. He revealed a disturbing plot orchestrated by Chief Adeyinka, the alleged false monarch, involving hired assassins targeting Toromade and his family. This distressing situation originated from their joint business ventures in Nigeria, with Chief Adeyinka attempting to evade his financial obligations.
When asked about his choice to maintain both business dealings and a friendship with the imposter, despite being fully aware of his deceitful actions, Toromade clarified the circumstances. “Chief Adeyinka Akofe had exclusively collaborated with me on traditional medicine projects. However, he eventually resorted to threats against my family in an attempt to evade payment for the work I had undertaken for a client in Kogi State. This incident took place in a location where he had falsely claimed to have been crowned as a king,” Toromade explained.
Expressing his stance on the situation, Fatah Toromade conveyed, “Chief Adeyinka Akofe will be expected to respond to all these accusations, including his false claims of being a monarch in Brazil. It is high time we started cleansing and upholding the integrity of Yoruba traditional religion in the diaspora, before individuals like this tarnish our revered traditions. He is currently in police custody,” Toromade asserted.
Babatunde Adesewa, a traditionalist and Chief from Osogbo, Osun State, shared with Ancestral News that the conflict is internal. He insists that Adeyinka Akofe was not arrested for impersonation but for alleged threats to the lives of Oba Olujudo and Chief Toromade’s family. He emphasized that the accusation of impersonating a monarch is false and originates from his enemies within the traditional circle, who would stop at nothing to discredit him. Babatunde further disclosed that the police station in Osogbo did not include impersonating a monarch in the accusations; instead, they focused on life-threatening incidents, as revealed in audio recordings where Adeyinka solicited hired killers to eliminate his opponents.
“They were all friends and family engaged in the same ventures until a dispute arose, stemming from a trip to Brazil that catapulted Adeyinka to worldwide fame. Babatunde questioned, ‘If he is not a king, why did he confer titles, even to Ambassadors in Nigeria? Why did he sit alongside top monarchs wearing a crown? Why did he journey across Africa with the support of those who are now accusing him of impersonation?’ He urged people to review their videos, highlighting that these men were consistently together. Babatunde concluded, ‘There is no basis for impersonation here; it’s all fabricated falsehoods. If he is guilty, then all of them should be arrested as well, for they conspired together.'”
According to Nigerians in Brazil who observed the activities of the alleged false monarch during his time in Brazil, Chief Adeyinka Akofe, whether as a king or not, showcased exemplary conduct while in Brazil. “Oba Adeyinka Akofe represented Nigeria admirably in Brazil, promoting our culture even more effectively than some of those who claim to be legitimate kings. Only in Nigeria do you see Adegun today, Adeogun tomorrow. Who can discern the truth?” remarked KFA Valentine, a Nigerian Fuji superstar in Brazil.
In response to the incidents, a Brazilian Yoruba traditionalist, Babalorisa Areola Figueiredo, stated, “There should be dedication and sincerity from our Nigerian Yoruba families. We need Yorubas from Nigeria who will teach us more and bring us closer to our roots, not individuals who are not even traditionalists trying to impose themselves as traditional authorities in Brazil. This is very disheartening. I can’t believe that the person my family admired while in Brazil was never a king. He excelled as a cultural ambassador; he should have stuck to that rather than aspiring to be a king,” said the Brazilian Babalorisa.
It’s worth noting that the Yoruba traditional religion is rapidly growing in the diaspora, with Brazil being one of the leading countries where Ifa Orisa religion is gaining strength. The Brazilian government invests millions of dollars annually to promote African traditional religions in the country. The increasing presence of impostors from Nigeria claiming various titles in Brazil has raised concerns to the point that Brazilians have started doubting the credibility of priests from Nigeria.
