The late comic actor, Babatunde Omidina, aka Baba Suwe, is said to have been killed by what he suffered in the hands of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) after he was accused of peddling drugs in 2011, but later vindicated by the court.
Omidina came under national scrutiny on October 12, 2011 when he was held at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, by the NDLEA on suspicion of drug trafficking.
He was suspected to have ingested several wraps of cocaine and was kept under surveillance by the agency for three weeks.
A Lagos court ordered his release and instructed the NDLEA to pay him N25 million as compensation.
However, the deceased’s son, Adebowale on Tuesday revealed that his father did not recover from what he suffered in the hands of NDLEA.
Adebowale who spoke on his father’s sickness while speaking at the residence affirmed that the illness started after the NDLEA ordeal.
He said, “My father was a lovely person. Whenever I showed him his videos, he would start laughing and sometimes burst into tears and ask if it was him and if he would ever act again and I would console and assure him that he would act again, just to make him happy.
“I can’t really say this was the cause of my father’s sickness, but since his matter with the NDLEA, my dad was not himself; he used to think about his wife and he used to think about us too because he still told me a few days ago that he was not sure if he would be with us for long and I told him that he would be with us.”
Adebowale said he was in the gym on Monday when he was called that his father was not breathing well.
“I asked them to call a nurse to treat him and when I got home, I went to his room, talked to him; he was trying to talk to me, but he could not.
“He was taking his first drip when I got home and when he was taking the second drip, I went out to wash my kits. I was washing my kits when my mum came to tell me that my dad was dead. I had to ask her if she was joking because I just left him about five minutes ago; I rushed to his room and found out that he was dead.
According to Punch, Adebowale, who had earlier in a viral video accused the family members and friends of neglecting the veteran actor while he battled the illness, on Tuesday, apologised for making the video, stressing that he did not mean to disrespect anyone.
“I was in shock and had to make a short video and because of the shock, I didn’t know what I was doing at that moment, so I posted it on my WhatsApp status and from there it went viral.
“I was surprised that within five minutes, the video had gone viral. What I have to say is that I’m sorry; I appeal to family members that I never meant it that way because I’m still young, but the shock affected me.”
The New Diplomat had earlier reported that Baba Suwe, will be buried on Thursday in Lagos State.
The deceased’s son, Adesola Omidina, who made the announcement stated that his father would be buried at their residence in the Ikorodu area of the state.
The burial was initially scheduled for Wednesday by the family, but was postponed by one day to allow a son of the deceased based in the United States return to Nigeria.
“Baba Suwe’s son in the US insisted that they wait for him to return home before his burial. That was the reason why it was moved to Thursday.
“Everything is ready for the burial, it will surely take place on Thursday,” a family source revealed.
It was learnt that a condolence register was already opened for sympathisers, fans and well-wishers of the veteran Nollywood actor.
