A NIGERIAN King who Prince Harry called his “in-law” is reportedly a conman and has been deported from the US twice.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made a three-day visit to Nigeria last weekend.
9
Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi was pictured shaking hands with Prince Harry
9
His wife Queen Firdaus posed for a photo with Meghan Markle
9
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made a three-day visit to Nigeria last weekendCredit: Getty
The Sussexes kicked off their “faux-Royal tour” with a visit to Lightway Academy, a primary and secondary school in the capital.
They then went to Nigeria’s defence HQ on Friday to meet military wives and senior officials.
The following day Harry was snapped playing volleyball, before Meghan referred to Nigeria as “my country”.During their visit, the pair also met with the kings of four different states in Lagos on Sunday.
At the gathering, Harry playfully called the Nigerian royals his “in- laws” and said “I’ll skip the protocol because at this point we’re all family”.
Among them was the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi of Osun State.
The 56-year-old, known as the “Funky King”, presented the Sussexes with several gifts and said to Meghan: “Thank God you are one of us.”
He also gave the Duchess, 42, the Yoruba name Adetokunbo – meaning “royalty from across the seas”.
His wife Queen Firdaus posed for a photo with Meghan and later posted on her Instagram account.
Akanbi, who drives a canary yellow McLaren supercar, was also pictured shaking hands with the Duke of Sussex, 39.
But the Nigerian royal is a convicted fraudster who was twice kicked out of America, according to the Mail on Sunday.
He was allegedly first arrested in Boston in 1998 after he tried to cash a stolen cheque for £247,000 from aviation company Boeing.
Akanbi posed as a successful businessman called Joseph Pigott but cops were alerted by a suspicious bank teller at BankBoston.
The conman was also charged for forging a cheque for £59,000 using the name Thomas Eyring.
He was reportedly jailed for 15 months and deported to Nigeria in April 1999.
His £1,500 fine was waived ‘”because of an inability to pay'”, the Mail reported.
Despite being banned from re-entering the US, he was then said to have been caught attempting to cross the border in March 2011.
Akanbi was with his then-wife Rakiya Saidu and young son and claimed they were going to New York to shop.
Facing the prospect of a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and a £197,000 fine, Akanbi pleaded guilty.
He was sentenced to time served, deported and banned from the US for life for a second time.
It is not suggested that Harry and Meghan knew of Akanbi’s background.
The Sun has contacted the Sussexes for comment.
It comes as their Archewell Foundation is no longer listed as “delinquent” by California’s Registry of Charities and Fundraisers.
On Monday the charity was listed as “delinquent” and a delinquency notice letter was sent to the foundation on May 3 for “failing to submit required annual report(s) and/or renewal fees”.
But on Tuesday the status of Archewell Foundation had been changed to “current”.
The letter had warned that an organisation listed as delinquent is banned from “soliciting or disbursing charitable funds” and “its registration may be suspended or revoked by the registry”.
On Tuesday, a statement from California’s Department of Justice said the Archewell Foundation is “current and in good standing”.
A spokesperson for California’s Department of Justice said: “After being in touch with our Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, the organisation is current and in good standing.”
It is understood the issue arose from a payment which was thought to have been sent but was said to have not been received.
However, new records show the required payment was sent last year and was delivered on schedule.
The Archewell Foundation said after investigating that it found payments were made “promptly” and all paperwork was filed “without error or wrongdoing”.
A spokesperson for the Archewell Foundation said: “We have diligently investigated the situation and can confirm that the Archewell Foundation remains fully compliant and in good standing.
“Due payments were made promptly and in accordance with the IRS’s processes and procedures.
“Furthermore, all necessary paperwork had been filed by the foundation without error or wrongdoing.”
9
Prince Harry and Meghan attend a polo fundraiser event in Lagos, NigeriaCredit: Reuters
9
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu welcomed the Duchess of SussexCredit: AFP
9
Harry beamed as he met youngsters at Giants of Africa at Ilupeju Senior Grammar SchoolCredit: Getty
9
The statement released by the Sussexes on their three-day tourCredit: sussex.com
9
Harry and Meghan pose for a photo as they attend the programme held in the Armed Forces Complex in AbujaCredit: Getty
9
The royal couple arrive at the State Governor House in LagosCredit: AFP
