Ali Baba said Abacha ordered DSS officers to arrest him after he asked the former Head of State to take off his glasses
By Kehinde Okeowo
Ace stand-up comedian and Nollywood actor, Atunyota Alleluya Akpobome better known as Ali Baba, has narrated how a joke about the former military leader, General Sani Abacha, almost led to his death.
He spoke about his ordeal while reflecting on the incident during his appearance on Leadership Podcast
The 59-year-old while recalling the tense atmosphere surrounding one of his performances during Abacha’s regime, said he jokingly told the late Head of State to take off his glasses.
He went on to say Abacha then sent the Department of State Service (DSS) officers to pick him up but he outsmarted him by refusing to go to the back stage.
Narrating what transpired, Ali Baba said, “The first close encounter I had with death was when general Sani Abacha was the President.
“So, I went to anchor an event in Abuja. So when it was time for the Akwa Ibom cultural group to perform. Abacha was still wearing one of those dark Rayban sunglasses that could be folded.
“I stopped the cultural group dance and faced Abacha, saying, ‘Your Excellency, sir, it’s almost 10 pm why are you wearing dark shades? Remove this shade nah or don’t you want to see their performance?
“Abacha then removed his glasses and talked to his aide. Immediately I saw DSS officers going backstage to wait for me. Immediately I noticed DSS presence, I went down the stage to sit on the ground next to Abacha. He then made jokes about me and questioned why I refused to go backstage.
“I said don’t worry, sir, let them arrest me here. He then looked at me and smiled.”
Late General Sani Abacha ruled Nigeria from 1993 to 1998, after a coup that ousted interim President Ernest Shonekan.
His regime was infamous for abuses, with opposition figures being imprisoned, tortured, or killed.
