LAGOS—A Nigerian actor known for his comedic roles has found himself in a real-life absurdity: His bowel movements are being dutifully reported on front pages after he was detained for suspected drug trafficking.
Following two — some say three — bowel movements after being detained for allegedly seeking to transport drugs in his stomach while boarding a plane to Paris, the actor known as Baba Suwe has so far come up clean.
The country’s drug agency has issued press releases on the actor’s first two “excretions,” while Nigeria’s national newspapers have earnestly reported the facts.
A doctor gave a television interview on Wednesday explaining the workings of the intestines.
The saga began when the actor, whose real name is Babatunde Omidina, was detained on October 12 as he was about to board an Air France flight to Paris. He “allegedly tested positive to drug ingestion,” the agency said.
It hit the front pages of newspapers and captured the public’s attention, with the actor known for his roles in films produced by the country’s prolific Nollywood movie industry.
On Friday, the agency reported that his first “excretion” revealed no drugs.
In a statement on Saturday reporting on the actor’s second bowel movement, the drug agency said it was “calling on members of the public to exercise patience pending the outcome of investigation activities.”
Newspapers reported that a third bowel movement has since occurred which also has not contained drugs. A spokesman for the agency declined comment on Wednesday.
One of the drug agency’s statements sought to explain the process.
“We have in the past recovered drugs after the fourth excretion,” the statement said. “It is just the normal process for all passengers.”