Veteran entertainer cum activist, Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, has opened up about his involvement in white-collar crime while living in the United States in his twenties, before eventually turning his life around.
This online medium reports that Charly Boy, during an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’ programme, made startling revelations about his troubled past, admitting to having committed several “foolish mistakes” in his youth days.
Charly Boy, also known as “Area Fada,” said his past life experiences are fully documented in his forthcoming memoir, 999.
The activist said he deliberately chose to tell his life story without filtering out the embarrassing or controversial moments, insisting that the book reflects his journey of mistakes, survival and redemption.
Describing 999 as “a terrible kind of book,” Charly Boy said readers should expect an unfiltered memoir that exposes both his failures and triumphs.
He said, “I’ve made mistakes in my life. 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.
“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.
“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.”
Speaking further, Charly Boy said advancing age has changed his outlook on life, replacing confrontation with personal growth and service to humanity.
He stated, “Before, I was always asking, ‘Where is the trouble? Let’s go there.’ Right now, I know how to shut off stress. I’m a sleep professor. I exercise, I watch what I eat, the company I keep and even what I watch on television because I don’t want anything disturbing my spirit.”
Charlie Boy also spoke extensively about surviving prostate cancer, saying the experience inspired him to support other Nigerian men facing similar health challenges.
He said, “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.
“After my surgery, I spent almost two years speaking with strangers who called me for advice. They trusted me enough to tell me very intimate things.”
On the state of the nation, Charlie Boy maintained that despite growing frustration among Nigerians, he remains optimistic about the country’s future.
He added, “No matter how dark the tunnel is, I still believe the salvation of this country lies in the hands of young people.”
