Charly Boy Opens Up About Past White-Collar Crime in America
Veteran entertainer and activist Charles Oputa, widely known as Charly Boy or “Area Fada,” has revealed that he engaged in white-collar crime while living in the United States during his twenties.
The disclosure comes as he prepares to launch his forthcoming memoir titled 999, a book he describes as an unfiltered account of his life’s mistakes, survival and redemption.
Charly Boy said he deliberately chose not to sanitize his story, wanting readers to see both his failures and triumphs.
“I’ve made mistakes in my life. I’ve been a thief. I’ve done very risky things. I’ve done very stupid, foolish things,” he remarked, adding that his past actions make his present survival feel almost miraculous.
He recalled, “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.”
Now older, Charly Boy says his outlook has shifted from seeking confrontation to pursuing personal growth and service to humanity.
“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,” he explained.
The entertainer also spoke about surviving prostate cancer, saying the experience motivated him to support other Nigerian men facing similar health challenges.
“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,” he said, noting that after his surgery he spent nearly two years advising strangers who reached out for guidance.
Regarding Nigeria’s current challenges, Charly Boy remains optimistic, placing hope in the nation’s youth.
“No matter how dark the tunnel is, I still believe the salvation of this country lies in the hands of young people,” he affirmed.
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