In the annals of Nigerian criminal history, few figures have captured the imagination quite like Babatunde Folorunsho, better known by his infamous moniker “Baba Oni Lace” – the man in lace. Picture this: Lagos in the early 1970s, a bustling metropolis where danger lurked around every corner, and the most feared criminal wore expensive lace fabrics to his robberies like a gentleman attending a society wedding. This wasn’t mere eccentricity; it was the signature of a man who redefined what it meant to be a criminal in Nigeria, blending violence with an almost absurd sense of style that would make him a legend.
Babatunde Folorunsho was a chronic armed robber and hardened criminal who threatened the peace and security of Nigerians in the 1970s with his group of bandits, nicknamed ‘Baba oni lace’ (Mr. Lace) because of his strong love for lace outfits which he even wore during robbery operations. His story is one of contradictions: a man who could inspire both terror and fascination, whose love for fashion was matched only by his appetite for crime, and whose eventual downfall would mark a turning point in Nigeria’s approach to criminal justice.
What made Baba Oni Lace extraordinary wasn’t just his crimes, but the theatrical nature of his criminal persona. His story even inspired legendary Nigerian juju musician Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi to create ‘Oro Nipa Lace’, a track from his 1971 album warning that if women wore lace, they would fear Babatunde, and if men wore it, they would be mistaken for the notorious robber. This cultural impact speaks to how deeply his image penetrated Nigerian consciousness – a criminal so distinctive that an entire fabric became associated with fear.
Early Life of Baba oni lace: From Apprentice to Outlaw
Humble Beginnings in Lagos
The man who would become Nigeria’s most stylish criminal began life like countless other young men seeking opportunity in Lagos. Babatunde Folorunsho started as an apprentice at a mechanic workshop on Itire Road in Surulere, Lagos, alongside Ishola Oyenusi, who would later become known as “Doctor Rob and Kill,” one of Nigeria’s most notorious criminals.
The mechanic workshop on Itire Road was typical of the small-scale enterprises that dotted Lagos in the 1960s and early 1970s. Here, young men learned trades that promised honest livelihoods: repairing vehicles, understanding engines, and developing the technical skills that could provide steady income in Nigeria’s growing economy. For Babatunde, this workshop represented hope – a chance to build a legitimate life through hard work and dedication.
However, the workshop also became a meeting ground for two young men whose ambitions would far exceed the constraints of legitimate employment. The partnership between Babatunde and Ishola Oyenusi would prove transformative for both, though in ways that their families and community could never have anticipated. Their friendship, forged over shared tools and mechanical problems, would evolve into a criminal alliance that would terrorize Lagos for years.
The Decision to Leave Legitimacy Behind
The pair left the mechanic shop to pursue what they saw as more lucrative opportunities. This decision marked the beginning of Babatunde’s transformation from honest apprentice to criminal mastermind. The exact circumstances that led to this dramatic change remain somewhat mysterious, but the outcome was clear: two young men who could have contributed positively to society instead chose to prey upon it.
The transition from mechanic’s apprentice to criminal wasn’t immediate or simple. It likely involved gradual exposure to criminal networks, growing dissatisfaction with legitimate earning potential, and perhaps most importantly, the influence of like-minded individuals who saw crime as a rational response to limited economic opportunities. Lagos in the late 1960s and early 1970s offered many temptations for young men willing to abandon conventional morality in pursuit of quick wealth.
Babatunde’s mechanical training would prove invaluable in his criminal career. Understanding vehicles – how they operated, their vulnerabilities, and how to disable or steal them – provided essential skills for armed robbery operations. His technical knowledge, combined with growing criminal ambition, created a dangerous combination that would soon terrorize Lagos roads and businesses.
The workshop period also established the pattern of partnership that would characterize much of Babatunde’s criminal career. Rather than operating as a lone wolf, he demonstrated preference for collaborative criminal enterprises where different individuals contributed complementary skills and resources. This approach would make his operations more sophisticated and more dangerous than typical street crimes.
The Double Life: Criminal with Style
The Birth of “Baba Oni Lace”
What distinguished Babatunde Folorunsho from other criminals wasn’t just his methods, but his unprecedented attention to fashion and personal presentation. He was nicknamed ‘Baba oni lace’ (Mr. Lace) because of his strong love for lace outfits which he even wore during robbery operations. This wasn’t mere vanity; it was a deliberate choice that served multiple purposes and created a criminal persona unlike any other in Nigerian history.
Lace fabrics in 1970s Nigeria were expensive, sophisticated materials associated with wealth, social status, and important occasions. By choosing to wear lace during criminal activities, Babatunde was making several statements simultaneously: he had access to expensive materials, he rejected conventional expectations about criminal appearance, and he possessed enough confidence to prioritize style even during dangerous operations.
Babatunde ‘Baba Oni Lace’ Folorunso was the notorious bandit getaway driver who made Nigerians stop wearing lace. His association with the fabric became so strong that ordinary citizens began avoiding lace altogether, fearful of being mistaken for the criminal or attracting unwanted attention from law enforcement. This cultural impact demonstrates how completely his image had penetrated public consciousness.
The Psychology of Criminal Fashion
The choice to maintain such distinctive personal style during criminal operations revealed sophisticated understanding of psychology and public perception. Babatunde understood that appearance could be a form of psychological warfare, creating fear and fascination that enhanced his criminal reputation while also satisfying personal vanity and desire for recognition.
His lace outfits served practical purposes as well. The expensive, refined appearance could help him blend into upscale social situations where potential targets might be identified or approached. A well-dressed man in quality lace was less likely to attract immediate suspicion than someone in typical criminal attire, providing operational advantages during planning and reconnaissance phases.
The theatrical nature of his presentation also reflected deeper psychological needs. Criminal careers often attract individuals seeking recognition, respect, and attention that they feel unable to achieve through legitimate means. Babatunde’s fashion choices suggested someone who wanted not just criminal success, but criminal fame – to be remembered and discussed long after his operations ended.
His style choices also demonstrated considerable confidence and perhaps recklessness. Most criminals prefer to avoid distinctive features that could aid identification or remembrance by witnesses. Babatunde’s choice to make himself more memorable rather than less suggested either supreme confidence in his ability to avoid capture or psychological compulsions that overrode strategic considerations.
Major Crimes: Terror in Expensive Fabric
Partnership with Ishola Oyenusi
Babatunde reigned almost the same time as the kingpin of Nigerian armed robbers, Ishola Oyenusi also known as Doctor rob and kill. This partnership represented one of the most dangerous criminal alliances in Nigerian history, combining different skills and personalities into a formidable criminal organization that dominated Lagos crime for several years.
While Ishola Oyenusi was known for his brutal efficiency and leadership capabilities, Babatunde brought different strengths to their partnership. His mechanical background made him invaluable for vehicle-related crimes, while his distinctive style and confident personality helped establish the group’s reputation and psychological impact on potential victims and law enforcement alike.
Their joint operations were characterized by careful planning, sophisticated execution, and unprecedented boldness. The partnership allowed them to undertake larger, more complex crimes than either could have managed alone. They complemented each other’s skills while sharing resources and criminal networks that enhanced their overall effectiveness.
The collaboration between these two notorious figures also created a competitive dynamic that may have pushed both toward increasingly audacious crimes. Each wanted to maintain his reputation and standing within criminal circles, leading to escalating operations that brought greater rewards but also increased risks of capture and punishment.
Reign of Terror Across Lagos
During his reign, he topped the list of most wanted criminals in Nigeria, reflecting the extent of his criminal activities and their impact on public safety and security. His operations ranged from vehicle theft to armed robbery to more complex criminal enterprises that demonstrated growing sophistication and ambition.
Babatunde’s criminal operations were notable for their professional execution and psychological impact. Unlike random street crimes, his activities showed careful planning, target selection, and attention to detail that reflected his intelligence and organizational skills. Victims and witnesses remembered not just the crimes themselves, but the surreal experience of being robbed by someone dressed like a society gentleman.
His reputation grew through word of mouth, media coverage, and the cultural impact of his distinctive appearance. Stories of the lace-wearing robber spread throughout Lagos and beyond, creating a legend that both enhanced his criminal effectiveness and increased law enforcement pressure to capture him. His fame became both asset and liability.
The scope of his criminal activities extended beyond simple robbery to include various forms of criminal enterprise that generated substantial income while terrorizing legitimate businesses and citizens. His operations disrupted normal commercial and social activities, forcing people to alter their routines and behaviors to avoid becoming targets.
The Cultural Impact
Legendary Nigerian juju musician Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi addressed his story in ‘Oro Nipa Lace’, warning that if women wore lace, they would fear Babatunde, and if men wore it, they would be mistaken for the notorious robber. This musical tribute illustrates how completely Babatunde’s image had penetrated Nigerian popular culture and social consciousness.
The fact that a respected musician felt compelled to warn people about wearing lace demonstrates the profound psychological impact of Babatunde’s criminal persona. He had succeeded in associating an entire category of clothing with criminal activity, creating fear that extended far beyond his actual victims to affect anyone who might wear similar fabrics.
This cultural penetration represented a unique form of criminal success. Most criminals seek to avoid attention and recognition that could aid law enforcement. Babatunde had achieved the opposite: he had made himself so memorable and culturally significant that his image influenced fashion choices and popular music, ensuring his place in Nigerian cultural memory regardless of his ultimate fate.
The musical warnings also reflected community responses to criminal activity that went beyond simple law enforcement. Artists, musicians, and cultural figures felt responsible for warning their communities about criminal threats and for documenting the social impact of criminal activities that went beyond immediate victims to affect entire communities.
Capture: The End of an Era
The Fatal Mistake
Babatunde Folorunsho alias Baba oni lace seemed invincible but unfortunately for him, he was nabbed by the police during a robbery operation on a fateful day in 1971. He was charged with robbing one Mr Alfred Marshall of a car. After years of successful criminal operations, a single mistake or moment of bad luck brought an end to his criminal career and began his journey toward becoming the first person publicly executed in Nigeria.
The circumstances of his capture remain somewhat mysterious, but they likely involved either betrayal by associates, unusually effective police work, or simply the statistical inevitability that even the most successful criminals eventually encounter situations they cannot escape. His capture sent shockwaves through both criminal networks and law enforcement circles, proving that even the most notorious criminals were not truly invincible.
The specific charge of robbing Alfred Marshall of his car might seem relatively minor compared to Babatunde’s reputation for more serious crimes, but it represented the kind of concrete evidence that prosecutors could present in court. Many of his other alleged crimes might have been difficult to prove beyond reasonable doubt, but this particular incident provided the legal foundation necessary for prosecution.
The whole nation jubilated as Babatunde Folorunsho was finally caught in the web of the law. This public reaction demonstrated how much fear and frustration his criminal activities had generated throughout Nigerian society. His capture represented more than just one criminal being removed from the streets; it symbolized the possibility that law and order could ultimately prevail over even the most notorious criminal enterprises.
Swift Justice
On the 8th and 13th of April, 1971, Babatunde Folorunsho was tried and found guilty of highway robbery. The judge, James Agboola Ojomo, sentenced him to death by firing squad. The speed of his trial and conviction reflected both the strength of the evidence against him and the determination of the justice system to demonstrate that criminal activity, however notorious or stylish, would ultimately face consequences.
The death sentence represented the maximum penalty available under Nigerian law for armed robbery, reflecting both the seriousness of his crimes and the court’s determination to send a strong message about criminal activity. Judge James Agboola Ojomo’s decision would prove historically significant, establishing precedents for how Nigeria would handle its most notorious criminals.
The trial process, compressed into just a few days, demonstrated the efficiency that the justice system could achieve when dealing with clear-cut criminal cases supported by solid evidence. This stood in contrast to many other cases that dragged through courts for months or years without resolution, showing that swift justice was possible when circumstances aligned properly.
The conviction also marked the beginning of the end for the era of criminal impunity that had characterized Lagos in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Babatunde’s capture and conviction sent clear messages to other criminals that their activities would ultimately face serious consequences, regardless of their reputation or previous success.
The Historic Execution
The execution day came; it was on the 24th of July, 1971. Thousands of Nigerians rushed to the popular Bar Beach in Lagos where the execution took place. Mr Babatunde Folorunsho was killed alongside Joseph Ilobo and Williams Alders Oyazimo publicly in Bar Beach, Lagos. This event marked a watershed moment in Nigerian criminal justice history, representing the first public execution of an armed robber and establishing precedents that would influence criminal justice policy for decades.
The decision to conduct a public execution reflected several considerations: demonstrating the certainty of justice, deterring other potential criminals, and satisfying public demand for visible punishment of notorious criminal figures. The execution was intended to be both punishment and public education, showing the ultimate consequences of criminal choices.
The massive public attendance at the execution demonstrated the extent of interest in Babatunde’s fate and the broader public demand for justice and security. Thousands of people interrupting their daily routines to witness the execution reflected both morbid curiosity and genuine relief that a source of terror had been removed from society.
The execution of three criminals simultaneously also reflected the broader criminal justice challenges facing Nigeria in the early 1970s. Multiple notorious criminals being executed together suggested that law enforcement had been working systematically to address criminal networks rather than focusing on isolated individuals.
Legacy: The Enduring Impact of Style and Terror
Transformation of Criminal Justice 
Babatunde Folorunsho’s case marked a turning point in Nigerian approaches to criminal justice and public safety. His public execution established precedents that would influence how the country dealt with notorious criminals for decades to come. The decision to execute him publicly reflected official determination to demonstrate that criminal impunity would not be tolerated, regardless of criminal reputation or popular fascination.
The speed of his trial and execution also established expectations about criminal justice efficiency that would influence public expectations and official policies for years afterward. Citizens who had witnessed the swift processing of Babatunde’s case would expect similar efficiency in other criminal cases, creating pressure on the justice system to maintain comparable standards.
His case also demonstrated the importance of concrete evidence in criminal prosecutions. While Babatunde was suspected of numerous crimes, his conviction rested on specific evidence related to the car robbery of Alfred Marshall. This established the principle that criminal reputation alone was insufficient for conviction; prosecutors needed solid evidence that could withstand legal scrutiny.
The public nature of his execution also reflected official recognition that criminal justice needed public support and understanding. By making his punishment visible and accessible to ordinary citizens, authorities sought to rebuild public confidence in the justice system while demonstrating the consequences of criminal choices.
Cultural and Social Impact
The cultural impact of Baba Oni Lace extended far beyond his immediate criminal activities to influence fashion, music, and social behavior throughout Nigeria. His association with lace fabric was so strong that he made Nigerians stop wearing lace, demonstrating how criminal personas could influence broader social patterns and cultural practices.
The musical tribute by Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi ensured that Babatunde’s story would be preserved in popular culture long after his death, becoming part of Nigerian folk memory and serving as both entertainment and cautionary tale for future generations. Music served as both historical record and moral instruction, helping communities process and understand the implications of criminal activity.
His story also established cultural templates for how Nigerians would remember and discuss notorious criminals. The combination of fear and fascination that characterized public responses to Baba Oni Lace would be repeated with other criminal figures, creating patterns of criminal celebrity that complicated law enforcement efforts while providing popular entertainment.
The enduring interest in his story, evidenced by continued media coverage and online discussions decades after his death, demonstrates his secure place in Nigerian cultural memory. He became a archetypal figure representing the intersection of style, crime, and ultimate justice that continues to resonate with contemporary audiences.
Lessons for Contemporary Nigeria
Babatunde’s story offers multiple lessons for contemporary Nigerian society, particularly regarding crime prevention, criminal justice, and social development. His transformation from legitimate apprentice to notorious criminal illustrates how economic opportunity and social support systems can influence individual life trajectories in profound ways.
His case also demonstrates the importance of swift, effective criminal justice responses to criminal activity. The speed of his capture, trial, and execution stood in marked contrast to many contemporary criminal cases that drag through courts for years without resolution, showing that efficient justice was possible when systems functioned properly.
The cultural fascination with his story also reveals ongoing Nigerian struggles with inequality, opportunity, and the appeal of criminal solutions to economic and social challenges. His continued presence in popular memory reflects broader questions about legitimate paths to success and recognition that remain relevant for contemporary young Nigerians.
His story serves as both cautionary tale and historical lesson, demonstrating how individual choices can have consequences that extend far beyond immediate participants to influence broader social patterns, cultural practices, and institutional responses that shape society for generations.
The Paradox of Criminal Elegance
The story of Babatunde Folorunsho – Baba Oni Lace – represents one of the most fascinating and paradoxical chapters in Nigerian criminal history. He was a man who embodied contradictions that continue to captivate and confuse: a criminal who dressed like a gentleman, a terrorizer who inspired musical tributes, a robber whose fashion sense became his most memorable characteristic. His life and death encapsulated broader tensions within Nigerian society about style and substance, appearance and reality, crime and justice.
Perhaps most remarkably, Babatunde succeeded in transforming criminal activity into a form of performance art, creating a persona so distinctive and memorable that it influenced popular culture, fashion choices, and social behavior throughout Nigeria. He made Nigerians stop wearing lace, achieving a form of cultural impact that few individuals, criminal or otherwise, ever accomplish. This ability to influence social behavior through personal style represents a unique form of criminal success that transcended immediate criminal gains.
Yet his story also illustrates the ultimate futility of criminal solutions to personal and economic challenges. Despite his intelligence, style, and initial success, Babatunde’s criminal career ended with capture, conviction, and execution before his 30th birthday. His transformation from promising apprentice to executed criminal demonstrates how criminal choices, however initially successful, tend toward inevitable tragic conclusions.
The speed of his downfall – from capture to execution in just a few months – also demonstrates the potential efficiency of criminal justice systems when they function properly. His case showed that notorious criminals were not invincible and that swift, decisive action could remove dangerous individuals from society while sending clear messages about criminal consequences.
The musical warning by Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi that people should avoid wearing lace to prevent association with criminal activity reflects the broader social costs of criminal celebrity. Babatunde’s fame extended beyond his immediate victims to affect innocent citizens who modified their behavior to avoid unwanted associations with criminal activity.
In the broader context of Lagos crime history, Baba Oni Lace represents a pivotal moment when criminal activity became cultural phenomenon, when individual criminals achieved celebrity status that influenced popular culture and social behavior. His story marked a transition from simple criminal activity to criminal performance, creating templates for criminal celebrity that would influence how subsequent criminals presented themselves and how society responded to criminal figures.
The enduring fascination with his story more than fifty years after his death demonstrates his secure place in Nigerian cultural memory as a figure who embodied both the allure and ultimate tragedy of criminal life. He became a cautionary tale about the consequences of abandoning legitimate opportunities in favor of criminal alternatives, while also representing a unique moment in Nigerian history when crime, style, and popular culture intersected in unprecedented ways.
Today, as Nigeria continues to grapple with criminal activity, economic inequality, and questions about justice and punishment, the story of Baba Oni Lace remains relevant as both historical lesson and cultural touchstone. His tale reminds us that criminal activity, however stylish or initially successful, ultimately leads to tragic conclusions, while also illustrating the complex relationships between crime, culture, and community that continue to shape Nigerian society.
Author’s Note
The man who made Nigeria afraid of lace achieved a form of immortality through infamy, ensuring his place in national memory not as a successful criminal, but as a compelling example of how individual choices can have consequences that extend far beyond immediate participants to influence broader cultural patterns and social understanding. In death, as in life, Babatunde Folorunsho remained unforgettable – though perhaps not in the way he originally intended.
