Fact-check: Did Traditional Ruler Spray Chains of Money on a Fuji Musician Wasiu Ayinde?

Fact-check: Did Traditional Ruler Spray Chains of Money on a Fuji Musician Wasiu Ayinde?

Claims: A viral video on social media platforms particularly purported to show a traditional ruler spraying wads of Naira notes on a popular fuji musician, Dr. Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, also known as KWAM 1. 

Full Text: In the video, the traditional ruler can be seen dancing and hugging the musician, while the money appears to be taped together. The video has sparked mixed reactions on social media.

Some people have linked the traditional ruler in the video to Oba Frederick Obateru Akinruntan, the Olugbo of Ugbo and chairman of traditional rulers in Ondo State. It is alleged that Oba Akinruntan is known for his lavish spending and cash-spraying at social events. However, these claims have not been verified. 

It’s important to know that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had in February 2023, in a press statement stated that “…For the avoidance of doubt, Section 21(3) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007 (As amended) stipulates that “spraying of, dancing or matching on the Naira or any note issued by the Bank during social occasions or otherwise howsoever shall constitute an abuse and defacing of the Naira or such note and shall be punished under the law by fines or imprisonment or both…”

One of the videos on YouTube has this caption “K1 DE ULTIMATE FOR HRM OBA KOLAWOLE SOWEMIMO OLU OWODE EGBA OGUN STATE.” #sanmoritv

Verification: PRNigeria notes that the figure in the video was alleged to be the Olugbo of Ugbo, Oba Frederick Akinruntan. But the traditional ruler has since denied any involvement. He stated that the individual in the video is not him, and that he does not condone such behavior. 

PRNigeria fact check team cropped one of the keyframe of the Money spraying monarch and ran a reverse image search which revealed that the traditional ruler in the viral video is Oba Kolawole Aremu Sowemimo, the Olu of Owode-Egba in Ogun State. 

PRNigeria fact check team then reached out to some of its sources in Ogun who corroborated the finding. They confirmed that the event in question was the celebration of the monarch’s 13th coronation anniversary and his queen, Toyin’s 60th birthday. It is alleged that the event was lavished and featured cash-spraying.

Many people have reacted to the video, one of such is an X user named Prince Olanrewaju, with the handle @LarryIsaac_1976 who tagged..

@officialEFCC, says “Oba Kolawole Sowemimo, Olu of Owode-Egba in Ogun State. At the 60th birthday of his Olori Toyin Sowemimo last Thursday. The King is doing this to our Naira in the name of displaying wealth. Now we blame yahoo boys for doing rituals and showing off at clubs and bars.”

Conclusion: PRNigeria fact-checking inquest has identified the individual in the viral video as Oba Aremu Kolawole Sowemimo, the Olu of Owode-Egba in Ogun State not Oba Frederick Obateru Akinruntan, the Olugbo of Ugbo and chairman of traditional rulers in Ondo State. 

The team noted that Oba Sowemimo was the one seen spraying money at his 13th coronation anniversary which coincided with his wife’s 60th birthday celebration. 

PRNigeria therefore concludes that Oba Sowemimo, a traditional ruler in Ogun State was the person spraying wads of Naira notes on a popular fuji musician, Dr. Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, also known as KWAM 1. The claim that a traditional ruler sprayed Naira Notes on Wasiu is TRUE.

By PRNigeria