They Said I Swallowed Cocaine But It Was All A Lie – Baba Suwe Shares .

I still remember the day everything changed for me. I was Babatunde Omidina, better known as Baba Suwe, one of Nigeria’s most beloved comic actors. People loved me for the laughter I brought to their homes through Nollywood movies, but in 2011, the laughter suddenly turned into tears.

I was arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Lagos airport, accused of drug trafficking. They said I had swallowed cocaine. Me? Baba Suwe? It felt like a nightmare. For weeks, I was detained, humiliated, and forced to use the toilet under watchful eyes because they believed drugs would pass out of my body. Each day was filled with fear, shame, and endless prayers.

But nothing came out. I knew the truth—there were no drugs in me. Yet, the damage had already been done. The headlines carried my name with scandal, and people I thought were friends began to doubt me. It was the most painful chapter of my life.

Eventually, after so much humiliation, the Lagos High Court ruled in my favour. I was declared innocent. The NDLEA was ordered to pay me ₦25 million in damages for unlawfully detaining me, but they never paid a kobo. Even though I was vindicated, the stigma remained. Many producers stopped calling me for roles. People whispered behind my back.

It was as though a part of me had been taken away.
That experience almost destroyed my career, but it also opened my eyes. Fame comes with admiration, but one false accusation can turn it all into disgrace. I lived through betrayal, public shame, and injustice, but I held on to God.

Today, I still carry the scars of that incident. It reminds me that sometimes in life, it’s not the battle itself that breaks you it’s the silence of those who refuse to stand by you when you need them the most.

What do you think about what happened to me? If you were in my shoes, would you ever forgive NDLEA for what they did? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Source: Punch Newspapers