Babatunde Omidina, the veteran Nigerian comedian popularly known as Baba Suwe is in the news again, this time because of the current poor state of his health and has reached out to fans and colleagues in the industry for financial assistance to save his life.
Baba Suwe’s life in recent years has been clouded with some very unfortunate incidents which in no doubt has affected his illustrious career. Here is a trip down memory lane as we recall some of them.
Drug Trafficking Allegation
On October 13, 2011, news of the comic actor’s arrest by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on suspicion of being in possession of hard drugs made the rounds on the internet which lead to a fierce battle of who was wrong and who was right.
He was detained for three weeks, during which was forced to excrete the wraps that were suspected to be in his bowels – with a method now described as cringe-worthy as using a hose – Baba Suwe felt vindicated as nothing was found. However, that incident will change his life forever as the actor will go on to narrate to Encomium in 2016 that it rubbished his corporate image. “The way they (NDLEA) treated me actually rubbished my image. My career has been dwindling. A lot of people that are supposed to be inviting me to take part in their movies abandoned me because of the incident. Even a lot of people that could have assisted me financially don’t want to associate with me again,” he told the publication.
Although he later took the NDLEA to court, won and was awarded N25 million in compensation for the wrongful arrest, Baba Suwe is yet to receive that money seven years after.
Accused Of Killing His Wife
When Monsurat Omidina(Omoladun) the actress and wife of Comedian Baba Suwe gave her last breath at their Ikorodu residence in Lagos, she was assumed to have died of hypertension as multiple sources revealed that thick blood was found dripping from her nose and her two ears simultaneously. Her burial which was held according to Islamic rites was filled with so much controversy as the deceased family alleged that the many troubles caused by Baba Suwe were instrumental to her death.
But the actor has debunked those insinuations via different interviews. Baba Suwe maintains that at the time of her passing him and his wife were in good terms as played together the night before she passed on. He also said that they had no issue and that the death of Monsurat was a big loss to him.
Medical Ordeals
Ever since the incident with NDLEA in 2011, Baba Suwe’s health never remained the same again.A longterm associate, Yomi Fabiyi was the first to announce Baba Suwe’s failing health in October 2016. But 24 hours after Baba Suwe debunked the report insisting that he was doing well and what Fabiyi had put out was an ‘Old story’. But Fabiyi insisted his claims were correct and even released a two-part video to buttress it.
Incidentally, it is the same Fabiyi who has once again brought the latest update to prominence after sharing videos of the ailing comic speaking about his health challenges on an Ibadan based radio station.
“My only gain is for him to get help and survive this. May God forgive our misdeed. Let us leave the past where it belongs and that is in the past. Without going into details, his present condition is getting critical to the previous state when I first raised alarm. I am again putting my all before the world to please help him. Time is of the essence. People around him are really trying but trust me on this, the situation is bigger now. He needs urgent comprehensive medical treatment,” Fabiyi wrote in the caption of his message to draw attention to the plight of the movie star.
As events unfold, we wish the ailing veteran comedian a speedy recovery from his current health challenges.