Veteran entertainer and activist, Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charlie Boy, has made startling revelations about his troubled past, admitting that he engaged in white-collar crime, theft and several reckless acts during his younger years.
The outspoken social commentator disclosed this during an interview on Arise Prime Time, where he spoke candidly about his forthcoming memoir, 999, describing it as an unfiltered account of his life, filled with mistakes, struggles, survival and redemption.
“I’ve made mistakes in my life,” Charlie Boy said.
“I’ve been a thief. I’ve done very risky things. I’ve done very stupid things, very foolish things. In fact, I have no business being here with you tonight, but I guess there’s a purpose for my life.”
Reflecting on his time in the United States in his twenties, the self-styled “Area Fada” revealed that he became involved in white-collar crime before eventually changing the course of his life.
“I was doing white-collar crime when I was in America. I was about 25 years old. I was doing a lot of stupid stuff. That’s why I say I’ve been there,” he said.
According to him, those experiences shaped the man he has become and inspired him to write an honest account of his life without concealing his darkest moments.
Describing 999 as “a terrible kind of book,” Charlie Boy said readers should expect a brutally honest memoir.
“I don’t leave anything out. The only few things I left out were because I genuinely couldn’t remember them. Otherwise, everything is there,” he said.
He explained that the title 999 symbolises a fresh chapter in his life, marking a departure from the rebellious image that has defined him for decades.
“I’ve been smart, I’ve been stupid, I’ve been foolish. Old things have passed away. This is a new beginning for me. All I want now is peace and tranquillity,” he stated.
The activist also revealed how surviving prostate cancer transformed his outlook on life, prompting him to support Nigerian men battling similar health challenges.
“I wanted to free a lot of men because we’ve been brainwashed into believing men don’t cry and shouldn’t talk about what they’re going through,” he said.
He disclosed that after undergoing surgery, he spent nearly two years counselling strangers who reached out to him for advice and emotional support.
Speaking on Nigeria’s current challenges, Charlie Boy maintained that he remains optimistic about the country’s future despite widespread frustration.
“No matter how dark the tunnel is, I still believe the salvation of this country lies in the hands of young people,” he said.
He also reflected on his often-publicised strained relationship with his late father, former Supreme Court Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, explaining that his rebellion stemmed from a desire to build his own identity rather than live in his father’s shadow.
Comments