EXCLUSIVE: Physically challenged hawker goes into hiding, alleges death threat over exposure as crossdresser

Eniola, the physically challenged hawker who received assistance from Brain Jotter, has come forward to address the controversy surrounding his identity. In this interview with TheCable Lifestyle’s VICTORY ORIMEMI, Eniola (also called Sultan) addresses the challenges he faced while growing up. Eniola also discloses that he has been subjected to online threats and accused a previous benefactor of attempting to exploit his situation for financial gain.

TheCable Lifestyle: We came across an online video showing Brain Jotter assisting you while you were hawking on the street. Shortly after, reports started circulating that you are a man, not a woman and that people are being deceived about your identity. Are the reports true?

Eniola: Yes, it is true. My name is Eniola, my parents gave me Sultan and I am a guy. The reason why I am behaving like a girl is because of help

TheCable Lifestyle: Is there a particular reason you chose to start dressing as a woman?

Eniola: When I was a child and living with my parents, they always beat me. They gave me N20 to go to school, and when I got to school, I begged my friends. Anytime I returned home, I was always hungry. When I upset my mother, she always used omorogun (stick) to beat me. She would hit my hand until it started swelling. That was when I started realising that my family did not like me. My mother told me that she had disowned me. So I decided to run away from home.

I started making and selling beads in a nearby beer parlor. I later thought to myself that this bead business would not be able to sustain me, so I learned makeup in Osun.

My family members later saw me and started beating me, so that is why I started disguising myself so my parents would not recognise me. I started my makeup business, and one woman asked me to meet her at a hotel. I was wearing a unisex outfit that day. The woman asked if I am a woman or a man. I told her that I am a man. She asked which hand I use for makeup, and I told her that I could use both hands and it would be nice. I did her makeup that day, but the woman did not give me any money. So I thought it was because I dressed like a man, and if I started dressing as a woman, maybe my way would open.

TheCable Lifestyle: Do you change your voice when you speak, or is this truly your voice? You do not sound like a man at all.

Eniola: That is exactly how I sound, no be say I change my voice or whatever. I did not change my voice.

TheCable Lifestyle: There are reports online that some generous Nigerians gave you N600,000 to help you set up your business so you can stop hawking. Is this true?

Eniola: That is something I want to explain. After my experience in Osun, my spirit told me to move to Lagos. I came to Lagos and started sleeping in the Fela Shrine. I met a woman who told me she was going to an event, and I introduced myself as a makeup artist. She was surprised and said she would take me to her event, which was a cake exhibition, so people could get to know me.

At the event, I met someone called CakebyIfe, who interacted with some other cake vendors to help me. They raised money for me at the exhibition, about N300,000 plus. They posted my makeup videos, and one of them said that Naijabakers noticed people were questioning why they would give me such an amount of money. They later did not give me the N300,000. AuntyOniCake, CakebyIfe, and DeliciousFromIbadan later agreed to raise more than N600,000 to get an apartment for me, so I would not have to sleep in Fela Shrine anymore. Several people, both those they knew and those they did not, contributed money for me. After collecting the money, they did not give it to me, they used it to rent an apartment for me and helped me get a phone. They rented a place for me for two years.

TheCable Lifestyle: Is that the house where you currently live?

Eniola: Yes.

TheCable Lifestyle: Where is the place? You do not have to give me an address.

Eniola: Ketu Alapere.

TheCable Lifestyle: Okay, please continue.

Eniola: After their help, my phone was later stolen, and I started wondering how I would manage. So I started hawking bottled water at Ikate. I sold very well and made money. One day, a man gave me money to go and buy a phone. He gave me N200,000, and I bought an iPhone XR, and used the remaining money to buy makeup products.

After buying the products, I tried to find a job, but there was no job for me. I did not have food to eat. I do handwork a lot, but people always have doubts about my ability because of my hands. So I would go to events to search for makeup jobs while also hawking at Ikate. The money from the bottled water business supports my makeup business, as I do not make much from makeup. People pay me N1,500 to N2,000 for the work I do. When I do home service, I charge N4,000.

TheCable Lifestyle: I would like to know what happened to your hands, is the condition a result of an accident?

Eniola: No, I was born like that, and that is what hurts me so much. My mother knows that is how she gave birth to me, but she still beats me.

TheCable Lifestyle: How did you recognise Brain Jotter on Wednesday? Have you been following him on social media?

Eniola: I follow him online

TheCable Lifestyle: At what location did you meet the skit maker? Was it around Ketu, where you stay?

Eniola: No, Ikate. I was hawking, and I met Uncle Brain Jotter. I told him my name is Eniola, and I am a makeup artist on Instagram. My handle is @glambyEniola. He asked me why I was hawking, but at that moment, I did not know what to say other than I did not have any supporters in Lagos. I am from a so-and-so place, and I have three fingers. He did not ask me if I was a man or a woman. Instead, he asked how much it would cost to get my makeup products, and I told him 400 – 500k. He made a video and sent me N400,000. I told him where I wanted to get the makeup products and went to Cindy’s that day to buy the products and also get a chair. I was so grateful! After spending the money, I saw the video online, and I was so happy. I also screen-recorded the video.

TheCable Lifestyle: Just to clarify, did you spend all the money on makeup products that day?

Eniola: No, I did not spend all of them. I spent 200 and something plus, going to 300 plus and later on, I still went to go and buy my makeup chair for N79,000.

TheCable Lifestyle: But you do not have a shop, do you? Where do you plan to fix the chair?

Eniola: I do not have a shop. I just bought a makeup chair first because Brain Jotter said I should use the money to buy my makeup kits and I should not use the money to buy another thing.

TheCable Lifestyle: Do you feel any remorse for your actions, now that this situation has taken a negative turn?

Eniola: Ma, If I am lying please let me know, in the video Brain Jotter made, did I say I am a girl or boy? I did not reveal my gender. It was not a planned video. All I would like to do is just to say thank you to Brain Jotter for the help. I do not know what else to say.

TheCable Lifestyle: The situation has become more complicated than we thought. Whether you communicated your gender or not, Brain Jotter and everyone could see someone wearing a dress, and there are rumours alleging that this person is a “liar”. Is there anything else you feel needs to be clarified?

Eniola: Yes, after I went viral, AuntyOniCake, who helped me this year, called me and asked if I could see what was trending online. She asked me where I was and why I did not tell her Brain Jotter helped me. She said when the time finally came for her to enjoy, I did not call her. I did not say anything. Later, she said she would stop paying attention to me. At that point, I did not understand.

Later that evening, she called me to tell me that she wanted to post something on my page and asked for my Instagram password. Is it right to give someone my Instagram password? Just because she wanted to see everything happening with me. Maybe because of money or whatever. This means she is the one that brought out all these because she said she would tell Brain Jotter to not render the help he promised me.

That AuntyOniCake blog, the good you have done for me and forgotten, you went to your Instagram page and pinned the post because you helped me, and you asked me if I am a boy or a girl when you wanted to help me. I told you that I am a boy, and you said you would not let people know. I remember she threatened to post my videos and tell the world that I am a man after I refused to give her my password, and she said there was nothing I could do about it. I was so confused, so I called someone to ask if it was right to give my password to someone, and I was told that my account would be hacked. I told the person that the lady requesting the password helped me raise N600,000 for my rent and my phone. The person said, ‘And so?’ Even though the lady helped me, I should not give her my password at all. I started asking myself if she wanted to be wicked to me, so I told her that I forgot my password. She told me that she sent a link to my Instagram to click, and that was when I realised she wanted to be wicked to me.

TheCable Lifestyle: How have you been dealing with all of the whole situation?

Eniola: It is only on Instagram that I have been receiving death threats and threats of arrest, and I am scared. I am scared because if I had given AuntyOniCake my password, this matter would have not become like this. It is because I did not give her my password which is why this matter went viral.

TheCable Lifestyle: Have your family members shown any interest in what is going on?

Eniola: Actually, when I went viral, and they said Adeleke and Davido were looking for me in Osun state, my family called and asked me where I was. Me, that you people do not care how I live or whatever I have eaten, it is now when Adeleke started looking for me, you are now asking about my whereabouts.

TheCable Lifestyle: Did they reach out to ask how you are coping with the online allegations or try to help you with this situation?

Eniola: There is nothing I need my family for, ma. They are comfortable with not seeing me at all. Can you imagine that if I had died, they would also be fine? At this point, with everything going on social media, I am no longer scared. At the end of the day, it will end in death. They can kill me.

TheCable Lifestyle: Eniola, you do not have to be scared; you are not going to die.

Eniola: (Starts crying) If death is next, let me just die. Because I have not gotten myself since. I have not been feeling like a human being and I have been praying to God to make me a human being but now Nigerians want to ruin me. I have just been trying to be okay but I am not fine at all. When they come and pick me up, let them take me to AuntyOniCake so she can explain what she truly wants to achieve from this issue I know she is doing all this because she did not get my password.

I do not have parents that care for me. AuntyOniCake that helped me I would feel ashamed to ask for money to feed from you after you helped to pay my rent. Please have mercy on me. I can give you my location, let them come and pick me and kill me. There are people that crossdresses and nothing has happened to them. I can even kill myself where I am.

TheCable Lifestyle: Please do not kill yourself and stop entertaining suicidal thoughts.

Eniola: (Crying profusely) Maybe all will be fine when I kill myself. My parents pushed me to become who I never wanted to become in life. I am tired. I was even chased out of the house they rented for me.

TheCable Lifestyle: When were you asked to leave?

Eniola: The night she asked for my password.

TheCable Lifestyle: Where are you currently staying?

Eniola: I am hiding somewhere. I have been hiding since I started receiving threats. I cannot expose myself.