The Chief Imam of Ilaro, Ogun State, Tajudeen Adewunmi, has explained why he returned N25m entrusted to him by late veteran Yoruba actor, Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, before his death. Adewunmi said the actor transferred the money to him to complete the rebuilding of his grandfather's house and not for a mosque project, as was later rumoured. The Imam spoke in an interview with BBC Yoruba: 'I am so close to Alhaji Taiwo Hassan; our houses are in the same neighbourhood.
When I got home after visiting him at the hospital, he called and said he wanted to keep money with me so he could complete his grandfather's house. He said the house was not in good condition and he wanted to rebuild a structure on it. He then transferred N25 million, with the excuse that he was likely to go to India for treatment.' According to the Imam, he immediately documented the transaction and informed members of Ogogo's family: 'When I got the alert, I informed my son, Adam, to state it somewhere because we did not know who would die first...
I informed his brother, Ayinde, and his daughter, Rasheedat, too, that Ogogo transferred money to me for this project.' However, following Ogogo's death, a rumour surfaced that the N25m was meant for a mosque project, which he clarified during the seventh-day prayer meeting: 'I was ready to return it. So, we agreed that I transferred the money to Ogogo's elder brother's account, Brother Rilwan.' Source: vanguardngr.com
