Alhaja Silifat Abiola Peller, the widow of late magician, Mr Alhaji Moshood Abiola, popularly known as Professor Peller, has revealed that the assassination of her husband was made possible because of the personal information he leaked to the media.
Silifat who is also known as Lady Peller disclosed this in an interview with BBC News Yoruba when she recalled a performance she had with her husband that got everyone scared.
She said during the performance, the late magician sliced her into two on stage but found it difficult to restore her back to normal.
“On that unforgettable day, Professor Peller performed at the National Theatre. He sliced Lady Peller into two but found it difficult to restore her back to normal,” she said.
“He did his best to the point of sweating which was noticed by the spectators. The show ended at that point.
“Thanks to God, Lady Peller later came back to life. But people were yet to know until the following day.
“While Professor Peller was performing (the following day), the spectators were not all that interested. All they wanted to see was Lady Peller.
“As soon as they saw me, they were excited to the point that some of them called it a day, saying my appearance was entertaining enough.”
Silifat said presidents and prominent people used to come to the shows which they performed across the world.
On how she heard of her husband’s death, she said she was in Lagos when she got the information.
“It was an unfortunate day which I can’t really explain. Some said I fainted and later got revive after water was poured on me,” she said.
On how her husband died, Silifat said “He was observing the Sujud prayer when he died.”
She continued, “The media knows how to ask questions that can make one say things he ought not to say.
“Professor Peller was asked by the media to reveal the particular time he could be found without his powers.
“He told them that he could only be found without his powers when he’s observing the Islamic prayers.
“That’s what Professor Peller said that led to his fall.”
Silifat said the assassins who killed the magician ensured they carried out the act at the time he was observing prayers.
Professor Peller was assassinated on August 2, 1997, at his Lagos residence.
