Baba Suwe as Entertainment Man of the Year

By Samod Biobaku

Sixthsense34@yahoo.com

If any establishment had declared Nigeria’s Yoruba comic actor, Babatunde Omidina popularly known as Baba Suwe as Entertainment Man of the Year in the first quarter of the year 2011 (on any platform whatsoever), then such an establishment could as well have dragged its reputation, credibility and integrity through the thickest mud.

However, like a bolt from the blues, Baba Suwe amazingly turned the tables around in one swift episode of controversy and unending drama.

What began as a rumour assumed a frightening dimension in a single breath following allegations of drug trafficking and his alleged involvement in the hard drugs.

The actor was arrested on his way to Paris on October 13 on suspicion that he ingested substances suspected to be cocaine for the purpose of drug trafficking and was swiftly detained him in NDLEA custody for investigation.

Details of how he was held by men of the Nigeria Drug law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and made to forcefully excrete under the observation of the agency’s team cannot be forgotten in a hurry.

Perhaps, if the actor had excreted anything that tested positive to drug tests in its slightest element, it would have been easier for a pigeon to swim for Australia to Alaska and survive than for the actor to avoid spending years behind bars.

However, despite the odds, Baba Suwe had the last laugh despite initial fears of the media and the Nigerian entertainment industry that the actor had seemingly run into troubled waters.

This singular feat of bravery and defiance despite glaring intimidation and strategic coercion by men of the dreaded NDLEA has put Baba Suwe on a brand new pedestal.

It hardly came as a surprise that barely two weeks after being hounded by the Media and the NDLEA, he suddenly emerged a focus of celebration in the print, electronic and online media with the NDLEA at the receiving end of the drama.

For weeks, the NDLEA held on to him working hard and praying harder with the conviction and optimism that the actor would at some point succumb by providing concrete evidence with which they could nail him.

At a point, three things became clear to the NDLEA and Baba Suwe. First, they both knew there could be no prosecution without evidence. They both knew there no sign that the man was going to excrete anything with banned substance in it and lastly, the NDLEA knew they could not hold on to the man forever and Baba Suwe knew this as well.

It therefore didn’t come as a surprise when Baba Suwe was eventually set free on November 4, 2011.

In a flash, a seeming villain and outcast became a celebrated son of the soil with accolades coming from far and wide over his ability defeat the NDLEA despite it’s initial deafening bark.

Following the N100 million suit that the actor slammed against the anti-drug agency, the actor stepped out of his ordeal a richer man as he was legally awarded N25 million in damages to be paid to him by the NDLEA.