The Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu is currently trending on social media as Nigerians have requested for him to be investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for money laundering.
Oba Akiolu had claimed that hoodlums stole $2 million and N17 million during an invasion of his palace on October 21, 2020 in the aftermath of the #ENDSARs protest.
The monarch, who disclosed this during the commissioning of Glover Memorial Hall in Lagos on Wednesday, said the state experienced the highest degree of damage compared with others during the #EndSARS protest.
He said, “I will support anything that will move Lagos forward. I have appealed to the Federal Government to assist Lagos with what we have suffered. The incident that happened here from October 20th to 23rd is so saddening.
“The destruction we suffered in Lagos is so enormous than in any other part of the country.
“Many buildings were burnt, including vehicles used to generate income. I can now say publicly that they stole $2 million and N17 million from my palace.
“Those who committed the offence would not have done that if they knew the implication. But as a father, I won’t place any curse on them.”
These comments by the monarch did not go well with Nigerians as they took to the social media to condemn him for saying such in public. Some also questioned how a traditional ruler would have such a huge amount stashed up in his palace when lots of people are faced with different challenges in the face of a global pandemic.
Many also wondered how a former police officer would have made such and have called for his investigation and prosecution by the EFCC.
Comments curled from Twitter.
@UNCLE_AJALA “He should be telling EFCC what he was doing with that amount & how he got the $2m after this revelation, but this is Nigeria, even bandits dey ball.
@ayemojubar “Where did a king get $2m and N17m? How about the money-filled casket? EFCC, your attention is needed.
Is Oba of Lagos operating a BDC (Bureaux De Change) in his palace? Is this not some violation? Is this not money laundering @officialEFCC? @Intergrity56 asked.
@ImportedAlhaji also wondered if the palace of the monarch was a bank. “Please where did he get that money and when EFCC going to call him in for questioning him? Or Palace don turn to bank these days?” he asked.
@heisizumichaels “Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu claimed that hoodlums stole $2million and N17 million. But truth be told, it only a hoodlum that can keep such amount in the house & not in the bank.
@peter_pentane “If not that Oba of Lagos stole that money too, he wouldn’t have kept that enormous amount of money in his palace.
Mazi @FestusGreen “So the Oba of Lagos had almost 1 billion Naira cash stashed in his palace? Well, he was a police officer for almost three decades! Nigeria’s redemption is unrealistic. Corruption, our dilemma. #EndSARS
@Gabafolayan wrote, “But how will the Oba of Lagos have $20 million in his house? To imagine that he just discovered that after how many months? EFCC where are you?”
