Queen Chanel Breaks Silence, Denies Oluwo’s Allegations Against Ooni
The former wife of the Oluwo of Iwo, Queen Chanel Chin, has dismissed recent allegations made by Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, who accused the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, of plotting to kill him through her.
In a press release issued on Thursday on her Instagram page, Queen Chanel described the claims as false, misleading, and damaging to the integrity of the Yoruba traditional institution.
She emphasized that the Ooni of Ife never introduced her to Oluwo nor had any hand in their relationship.
“For the record, I was introduced to Mr. Akanbi by a respected Lagos Monarch, not by the Ooni of Ife. At no time did this Monarch introduce me to Mr. Akanbi for any malicious intent,” she clarified.
Oba Akanbi had earlier alleged in a Facebook video that Ooni Ogunwusi conspired against him by setting him up with a woman who allegedly attempted to poison him and orchestrate his assassination.
He further claimed that the woman, whom he later identified as his ex-wife, bore him a child whose paternity he questioned.
But Queen Chanel countered these allegations, insisting that Oluwo’s narrative was fabricated.
She recalled fond memories of her time as Olori, adding that Oba Akanbi had been absent from their son, Prince Oduduwa’s, life for over five years.
“Mr. Akanbi resurfaced in August this year in Canada, refused to sign passport papers but dropped $500, the first support Oduduwa ever received from him since we left the palace,” she stated.
Queen Chanel further explained that she had taken full responsibility for raising their son alone while advocating for peaceful co-parenting.
She urged the Yoruba traditional council to caution the Oluwo against degrading the sacred throne he once occupied.
“I plead with the public to disregard all falsehoods against the Ooni of Ife, our foremost monarch,” she added.
The former queen stressed that this would be her final statement on the matter, affirming her deep respect for the Yoruba people and their institutions.
Meanwhile, traditional rulers in Origbo under the Ife North Local Government of Osun State have issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Oluwo of Iwo, demanding a retraction of his recent allegations against the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II.
At a press conference held on Thursday at the Palace of Salu Edunabon, the monarchs accused the Oluwo of misbehavior, insult, and gross disrespect to the sacred throne of Oduduwa.
They described Oluwo’s remarks, including claims that the Ooni conspired with his ex-wife to poison him, as criminal, defamatory, and unbecoming of a traditional ruler.
The Obas recalled that Oluwo had previously been suspended for six months from the Osun State Council of Obas after he allegedly assaulted the Agbowu of Ogbaagba during a peace meeting, an action ratified by the Ooni of Ife as Chairman of the State Council of Obas.
They insisted that the recent outbursts of the Oluwo were aimed at ridiculing the institution of traditional leadership in Yorubaland, warning that such behavior would no longer be tolerated.
Also, the spokesman for the Ooni of Ife, Otunba Moses Olafare, has dismissed as baseless and “childish” the recent allegations made by the Oluwo..
Olafare, while speaking with newsmen, described the claims as false and wondered why Oluwo had never taken the matter to security agencies if his life was truly in danger.
“I hope he has reported it to the police station. If somebody alleges a threat to his life or an attempt to kill him, should he report it to the security agencies or to the media? That should give you an idea of what lies behind the so-called allegations. He is always rushing to the media to shout,” Olafare said.
“This is not the first time he has said this, anyway. But has he ever reported it to the police station? Has he ever reported it to the government? If he has not done that, why run to the media?” the spokesman queried.
On the issue of infidelity and the breakdown of Oluwo’s marriage to his former wife, Queen Chanel Chin, Olafare maintained that it was strictly a private matter and had nothing to do with the Ooni.
“That does not concern me. It does not concern the Ooni. He has remarried now and should have forgotten everything. And the woman, too, has remarried, wherever she is in Canada. He’s not the first person to experience issues in his marriage. Even the Ooni he is referring to had issues in his marriage. So, can he now come up to me and say, ‘You are the one who arranged for my wife to leave me’? That is an allegation too childish to respond to,” he added.
Olafare urged the public to treat Oluwo’s claims with skepticism, stressing that such accusations were unbecoming of a monarch and risked ridiculing the Yoruba traditional institution.
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
