A Case of Alleged Deceit and Exploitation: The Petition against Oba Adekeye Adeyemi
Christy Oyewole, a Nigerian residing in Croydon, London, and founder of the Christy Oluwabunmi Foundation, has lodged a formal complaint with the Ogun State House of Assembly, accusing Oba Adekeye Adeyemi, the Abepa of Joga-Orile in Yewa North Local Government Area, of orchestrating a marriage scam and subsequently exploiting her financially. The petition, submitted on May 8, 2025, and received by the Speaker’s office the following day, details a series of events that began with Oyewole’s vulnerability after experiencing domestic violence in her previous marriage.
According to Oyewole, Oba Adeyemi presented himself as a benefactor, offering to facilitate her divorce. She alleges that the monarch not only provided her with fraudulent divorce documents but also orchestrated a fake marriage to her. This alleged deception set the stage for what Oyewole describes as a calculated scheme of financial exploitation. She claims that over the course of their relationship, Oba Adeyemi systematically extracted significant sums of money from her, totaling approximately N65 million. In addition to the monetary losses, Oyewole asserts that the monarch also misappropriated jewelry valued at around N50 million, along with other personal belongings, including phones. These alleged acquisitions were made under the pretense of borrowing, with repeated promises of repayment that were never fulfilled.
Oyewole’s petition outlines her repeated attempts to recoup her losses. However, she alleges that Oba Adeyemi consistently leveraged his position as a traditional ruler to evade accountability and obstruct justice. This alleged abuse of power has left Oyewole feeling helpless and betrayed, prompting her to seek redress through official channels. The petition to the Ogun State House of Assembly represents a formal escalation of her efforts to bring Oba Adeyemi to account for his alleged actions.
The Ogun State House of Assembly, upon receiving the petition, has acknowledged its commitment to investigating the matter. Mr. Sakiru Adebakin, the Assembly Clerk, confirmed the receipt of the petition and stated that the standard procedure of inviting both the petitioner and the respondent for their respective accounts would be followed. While acknowledging the Assembly’s responsibility to address the petition, Adebakin noted that the timeline for summoning the parties involved would depend on the existing backlog of pending petitions. This indicates that while the Assembly recognizes the seriousness of the allegations, the investigation may require some time before reaching a conclusion.
In addition to her petition to the House of Assembly, Oyewole has also reported the alleged crimes to the Ogun State Police Command in Elewe-Eran, Abeokuta, the state capital. This parallel approach demonstrates her determination to pursue all available avenues for justice. However, attempts to reach the state Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, for comment on the status of the police investigation have been unsuccessful as of the time of reporting. This lack of response from the police leaves the current status of their investigation unclear.
Oba Adeyemi, the accused party in this case, has not responded to requests for comment. While he initially answered a call from a journalist seeking his reaction to the allegations, he abruptly terminated the call upon learning the journalist’s identity. Subsequent attempts to contact him via phone and messaging platforms have been unsuccessful. This lack of response from Oba Adeyemi leaves his perspective on the allegations unknown and further complicates the efforts to establish a clear picture of the events. The absence of a statement from the accused raises questions about his willingness to engage with the investigative process and address the serious claims made against him. As the investigations by both the House of Assembly and the police unfold, the hope remains that a thorough examination of the evidence will shed light on the truth of the matter and ensure that justice is served.
