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Where Is The Famous Comic Actor, Baba Suwe?
Babatunde Omidina, also known as Baba Suwe, was a regular character in Yoruba genre of Nollywood films in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Baba Suwe was the go-to guy for rib-cracking movie roles for film producers.
His appearances in films ensured that viewers would laugh and that movie producers would make a lot of money from sales.
Omidina’s career began in 1971, but he rose to prominence after appearing in Iru Esin, a 1997 film produced by Olaiya Igwe.
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However, Baba Suwe’s acting career took a long break. This was after a famous run-in with the law.
It all started on October 12, 2011, when he was arrested at Murtala Mohammed International Airport on suspicion of drug trafficking.
A body scanner at the airport detected suspected cocaine wraps in his stomach.
The agency detained the popular comedian for three weeks during the encounter, but no drugs were found or excreted.
Following that, a Lagos High Court ordered his release. The NDLEA was also ordered to pay the veteran actor N25 million for illegally detaining him and to publicly apologize to him, a ruling that the drugs agency appealed.
Since the 2011 episode, Baba Suwe’s acting career faded into oblivion.
It was later revealed that the famous actor was in poor health due to diabetic complications, among other things. Many people blamed it on his NDLEA incarceration.
A public appeal for help for Baba Suwe to receive comprehensive medical treatment in the United States was later made.
On February 21, 2019, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo donated one million Naira to the actor’s medical treatment. The donation was made through the office of Aregbe Idris, the APC Lagos Youth Organising Secretary.
On February 24, 2019, the actor also received a N10 million donation from Rev. Esther Ajayi, the founder of the Love of Christ Generation Church C&S (Worldwide).
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The actor was flown to the United States for treatment in April 2019.
Omidina returned to Nigeria in May 2019 after completing his treatment.
On June 9, 2021, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu presented cheques totaling N500 million to owners of properties demolished for the ongoing Igbogbo-Igbe Road Expansion Road project.
Baba Suwe was among those who benefited. He received N3.1m in compensation for his demolished property.
The iconic comic returned to his filmmaking ways in April 2021.
The 62-year-old Omidina was cast in Yomi Fabiyi’s film ‘Oba Shomolu.’
