The death of Nollywood actress Temitope Osoba has taken another dramatic turn after her fiancé, Prophet Itunu Onadeko, disputed some of the claims surrounding her final days and alleged that the actress died at a police station in Ikorodu, Lagos State.
Onadeko, Shepherd-in-Charge of the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) Onibuore Cathedral in Bogije, Ibeju-Lekki, made the claim during an interview with the Celestial Reality Check, the investigative media arm of the CCC.
His account has added fresh questions to a death that has already generated intense public interest, particularly over the circumstances surrounding the actress’ final hours and the cause of her death.
According to the cleric, he received a late-night phone call from an unidentified person informing him that Osoba had died at a police station.
“It was a random person that called me around 12 am that she died in a police station in Ikorodu,” he said.
Onadeko, however, acknowledged that he could not identify the particular police station where the actress allegedly died.
He said that after receiving the information, he reported himself at a nearby police station.
Recounting what happened shortly before the actress’ death, Onadeko said Osoba had expressed a desire to visit a woman identified as Mrs Kehinde Osoba, who he said also runs a church.
He said Osoba went there with a hairdresser with whom she had reportedly been staying.
According to him, Osoba had also intended to see him, but he was unavailable at the time because of church activities.
The cleric said communication between him and the actress continued after she left, noting that she even posted a message online before he later received news of her death.
“The hairdresser that Tope was sleeping in her place was the person that went with her. We maintained communication and she even posted ‘Ogo tuntun’ until I heard that she died in the police station.”
The account, if independently established, could raise further questions about what happened between the actress’ departure and the reported circumstances of her death.
Fiancé Disputes Cancer Death Claims
Osoba had previously spoken publicly about undergoing treatment and surgery for cancer. Her battle with the illness subsequently became part of discussions surrounding her death.
However, Onadeko rejected the suggestion that cancer complications were responsible for her death.
He confirmed that the actress had battled the disease and said he had supported her spiritually when she was preparing for surgery.
“When I first met her, after I did a redemption prayer for her, she told me she wanted to do surgery for cancer. I prayed for her,” he said.
He recalled that Osoba had even participated in a skit on the day she was scheduled for surgery before they proceeded to Evacare Hospital.
The actress’ family had previously urged the public to be cautious about unverified claims concerning her death and indicated that some information circulating about the circumstances was unauthorised.
Onadeko also addressed allegations concerning money reportedly raised for Osoba’s medical treatment.
The cleric denied claims that he controlled or diverted funds donated to the actress, including suggestions that money meant for her treatment was used to develop his church.
He questioned the basis for reports that the actress received as much as ₦30 million for her surgery.
“Who has evidence that the money she got for her surgery is ₦30m? It wasn’t my account they sent the money to, it was hers.”
Onadeko also denied using any of the funds to construct the church.
He said the church had existed long before he met Osoba and argued that its development could not reasonably be attributed to donations made for the actress’ treatment.
According to him, businessman Mike Adenuga was among those who supported Osoba, including an offer of financial assistance.
“I never had access to her money,” he maintained.
‘She Drove Herself To Iperu’
The cleric further rejected allegations that Osoba was subjected to restrictions or maltreatment while they were together.
He specifically denied claims that she had been prevented from using her vehicle.
According to him, Osoba drove herself to Iperu shortly before her death.
“She drove the car out herself. She was going to Iperu one Sunday.”
He said he did not know exactly whom she intended to visit in Iperu but believed the trip could have been connected to her maternal family.
Onadeko said he had encouraged the actress to maintain contact with her maternal relatives, particularly as they were preparing for marriage.
The cleric also disclosed that Osoba had struggled with smoking and said he had encouraged her to quit.
“She was dealing with a smoking habit, and I wanted her to leave it. All the church members know about her smoking habit,” he said.
He rejected suggestions that their relationship involved coercion or degrading treatment.
According to him, they had occasionally borrowed money from each other and jointly handled financial difficulties.
He also said Osoba had bought gold jewellery for both of them but later sold the items, with the proceeds used by both parties.
“There has never been a time that we were under duress,” he said.
Onadeko added that the house where Osoba lived was not rented but belonged to her uncle.
He said that after her surgery, the actress gave her uncle ₦1 million after he insisted she contribute something towards her stay in the property.
Fiancé Rejects Poisoning Allegation
Another allegation addressed by Onadeko was the suggestion that Osoba may have been poisoned.
He dismissed the claim, although he did not provide independent evidence establishing what caused her death.
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He also disclosed that Osoba had stopped attending his church approximately three weeks before her death.
“She left the church about three weeks before her death,” he said.
Onadeko said he had not contacted most members of Osoba’s family since her death, except for one of her uncles, Taiwo.
According to him, the relative was angry with him and declined to continue the conversation.
Onadeko’s account has introduced a fresh layer of uncertainty into the circumstances surrounding Osoba’s death.
His claims about the alleged police-station death, his rejection of cancer complications as the cause, and his denial of poisoning and financial allegations remain claims from one side and have not, from the information available, been independently established.
For now, several questions remain unanswered: What exactly happened to Osoba after she left to visit Mrs Kehinde Osoba? Why was she allegedly taken to a police station? What happened between her arrival and her reported death? And what officially caused her death?
Until those questions are answered by the relevant authorities or through credible evidence, speculation around the actress’ final moments is likely to continue.