Pasuma Releases Press Statement On Murder Scandal

Fuji music icon, Otunba  Wasiu Alabi Pasuma reacting to recent report that he killed a fan at one of his private gigs in Lagos has released a press statement to clear his name.

In a statement made available through his manager, Afolabi Oyekoya, the singer denied killing anybody
The statement reads thus:
“On October 24th I had a show somewhere around idimu and as usual there were quite a lot of people there. After my performance I made for my car after settling the area boys with a large sum of money. Definitely, I had to zoom off because I didn’t want them to mob me. I left the venue and drove straight to my house. Later that night, I heard someone was killed at the show. I was surprised because people don’t fight at my shows.  It was later explained to me that the young man was killed by policemen. I tried to get details of the incident and that was when I gathered that one of the boys hung on to my car before I drove off.
 
He was said to have fallen off and started running after my car for reasons I don’t know. I didn’t even notice anyone was running after my car. Simultaneously, the policemen were driving fast behind me to get more money from me and in the process the boy was knocked down by their vehicle. When the policemen caught up with me, I gave them Money and they turned back. As at that time I was not even aware something had happened and I drove off. Later that night, I was informed that a boy was killed by the policemen and my manager Afolabi Oyekoya has been trying to get in touch with the deceased family. If those that reported the incident, did actually visit the police station or hospital the boy was taken to, they would have found out the truth. The question is ,Did my car hit the boy? Did my car have any contact with the boy ? Was I even aware of anything ?
The policemen were said to have taken the boy to the hospital or their station and had communicated with the family. It was reported that the policemen were part of my convoy but the truth is they were never part of my convoy. I didn’t go to the show with any security except my bodyguards. I feel comfortable around area boys or whatsoever you choose to call them, I have no reason to move around with policemen. I didn’t hit anyone with my car, neither did any of my convoy . Where is the story coming from. I didn’t want to make any press statement but have been forced to because it is obvious some bloggers are trying to make a mess of my name. Do we now live in a country where people believe they can just write something about you and get away with it. Hmmm !
If I was truly involved in a murder case I would have been invited to the police station for questioning .  Have I been asked to write a report at the police station? Have I been arrested ? We are talking about someone’s life here? My management AO21 Media have been making efforts to reach the family of the deceased not because we were involved in his death but because he was a fan of Pasuma wonder.

Pasuma In Trouble, May End Up In Police Custody

From all indications, the Fuji veteran who recently celebrated 20 years on stage may be on his way into police net if matters are not well handled. Eye witnesses are saying that a member of the convoy of the Fuji star over-ran a teenage fan after Pasuma’s vehicle knocked down the victim on their way from a show at Idimu-Council area of Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State.

The victim, Bidemi, a 12-year old fan of the ‘Orobokibo’ singer is said to have been lurking around to get a glimpse of the star as he was leaving the St. Augustine Events Hall, Isheri-Idimu where the show took place only to lose his life in the process. ‘Pasuma was trying to avoid the area boys as he was leaving and so he was driving fast and it happened that he knocked the boy down and the vehicle behind him ran over the boy’, an eye witness told NET correspondent.

Pasuma is said to have been driving in his newly acquired Range Rover Sports and did not bother to slow down to find out what had happened. ‘He sped off without caring’, another eye witness said.

But the singer’s minders insist he’s innocent and absolutely unaware of what happened after he left the event venue. Those close to Pasuma told NET he wasn’t initially aware of the situation and that the decease may have been hit by a random car coming behind the musician.

NET investigations reveal that ‘Paso’, as the singer is fondly called in the streets was trying to avoid the area boys who were desperate to extort him. It has become an accepted tradition in the Fuji industry, for Fuji artistes who perform in an area to ‘settle’ the area boys because they form the largest percentage of their fan base.

Pasuma according to a few ‘area boys’ who were at the scene of the incident said the self- acclaimed Oganla of Fuji is fond of not ‘settling’ the area boys and it was in this bid to avoid being extorted that led to the untimely death of the teenager.

‘Paso no dey like to settle. Na because e no wan settle make am drive fast like that’, one of the area boys said.

Other sources say he actually tipped fans and some miscreants, but like Oliver Twist, some camps wanted more and the musician sped off after he had had enough. Speaking to NET in a telephone conversation, Pasuma’s manager, Afolabi Oyekoya refused to confirm or deny the allegations. He was yet to issue an official statement as at press time, and NET enquiries were left unanswered.

The family of the victim could not be reached for comment. Our correspondents’ visit to the St. Augustine Events Centre, venue of the show did not yield results as the management refused to comment on the incident.

All efforts to get the police officers at Idimu Police Station Area M also proved abortive, as the officers refused to entertain any questions and directed that we referred the inquiry to the office of the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, whose number was switched off at the time.

Pasuma is not the first celebrity to be involved in a hit and run. Years ago, the current president of the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria, Ibinabo Fiberesima was arrested and imprisoned for killing a Lagos doctor. Also, last year, singer Terry G was alleged to have been involved in a hit and run situation. It is not clear how the case ended.

Credits : THENETNG