Sola Sobowale opens up on alleged drug trafficking and arrests in Saudi Arabia

Sola Sobowale, the veteran Nollywood actress, has dismissed rumours surrounding her alleged arrest for drug trafficking and death in Saudi Arabia.

The 58-year-old addressed the rumours during a recent episode of the ‘King of Talk’ podcast with Teju Babyface, as she reflected on the negative reports that were published about her in Nigeria after she moved to the United Kingdom.

The actress revealed that one such report claimed she was killed in Saudi Arabia for drug trafficking, and explained that many people were surprised to see her alive when she returned to Nigeria. She stated that the reports did not bother her, emphasising that she had her peace.

Hear her: “The worst of the rumours I heard about me was when they said Sola Sobowale had been killed in Saudi Arabia. and that I carried cocaine,” she said.

“It was written here in Nigeria. I was arrested in Saudi Arabia. That there, they amputated my leg and my hand. And I said to them that I am a star in Nigeria and that they should kill me.

“So when I now got to Nigeria, at the airport, they said, ‘Sola Sobowale is dead’. I said, do you believe in abracadabra? I said I am alive. I have never been to Saudi Arabia.

“I do not even know where it is on the map. So many negative things. But to God be the glory. God has compensated me.”

The versatile actress disclosed that she paused her career on hold to focus on her children, stating that she did not expect anything in return. She further expressed her gratitude for God’s compensation despite the negative reports about her.

She also recalled leaving her lucrative acting job, which was earning her over N5 million within months in the early 2000s, for menial jobs in England.

She said, “It was confusing because my tag read ‘Olu’. Because I did not put Olusola. Especially one of the top Ogas looked at me and said ‘have I met you before’ and I said no,” she said.

“Then he looked at me and walked away. After I saw him in the office, I went there and asked may I know you sir and he said his name is Seye Fadipe. And I said yes, you have met me before. I said my name is Sola Sobowale. You met me on the television.

“He looked at me and said ‘are you crazy?’ I said I am not crazy. He asked what are you doing? You are up there in Nigeria. But there was something better than that. My future. My children are my future. There will be a time when the energy that Sola Sobowale will no longer be there. Then it is what you sow that you reap.

“At that time, Sola Sobowale was baba career. Career that there was nothing you will not do. Not senior career or team leader. You will wash. You will carry. You will clean. You will do everything. That was what I was doing. The following week, my name was called to go to college and register.”