- Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, is a veteran entertainer and activist.
- He admitted to being involved in white-collar crime during his early years in the United States.
- Charly Boy described his past actions as “stupid mistakes”.
Veteran entertainer and activist, Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, has revealed that he was once involved in white-collar crime during his early years in the United States before eventually changing his ways.
Naija News reports that the outspoken media personality made the revelation during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time, where he reflected on his past and admitted what he described as a few “stupid mistakes” he made in his youth.
Charly Boy, also known as “Area Fada,” noted that these experiences form part of his life story, which he has documented in his upcoming memoir, titled 999.
According to him, the book does not shy away from the uncomfortable or controversial chapters of his life, but instead presents an honest account of his journey through failure, survival and personal transformation.
He described 999 as “a terrible kind of book”, explaining that it is deliberately raw and unfiltered.
“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 stupid things. Actually, I have no business being here with you tonight, but I guess there’s a purpose to my life,” he said.
He added“I was involved in white-collar crime when I was in America. I was about 25 years old. I did a lot of stupid things. That’s why I say I was there.
“I’ve been smart, I’ve been stupid, I’ve been stupid. Old things are gone. This is a new beginning for me. Now I just want peace and quiet.”
Speaking further, he said that age and experience have reshaped his way of thinking, moving him away from conflict towards a more peaceful and disciplined lifestyle.
“Before, I always asked: ‘Where is the problem? Let’s go there.’ Right now I know how to relieve stress. I’m a sleep professor. I exercise, I watch what I eat, the company I’m in, even what I watch on television because I don’t want anything to disturb my spirit,” he explained.
Charly Boy also opened up about surviving prostate cancer, saying the ordeal has forced him to become more vocal in supporting other men facing similar health challenges.
“I wanted to free a lot of men because we’ve been brainwashed into believing that men don’t cry and shouldn’t talk about what they’re going through.
“After the operation, I spent almost two years talking to strangers who called me for advice. They trusted me enough to tell me very intimate things,” he said.
As for Nigeria’s future, he expressed cautious optimism, insisting that younger generations hold the key to national progress despite the current challenges.
As dark as the tunnel is, I still believe that the salvation of this country is in the hands of young people. he added.
