Rotimi Adeoye defends actions after Bunmi Akinaanu burial

Rotimi Adeoye addresses claims after Bunmi Akinaanu’s burial, detailing family dispute and custody struggles in a public statement

Rotimi Adeoye, estranged husband of the late gospel singer Bunmi Akinaanu, also known as Omije Ojume, publicly addressed family disputes following her burial last week.

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The statements, circulated via voice notes, videos, and interviews, come after a graveside service descended into confrontation among relatives and associates.

Adeoye, who is believed to reside abroad, alleged that his marriage to Akinaanu collapsed due to infidelity and deceit.

He claimed he met Akinaanu in the United Kingdom around 2000–2001, marrying her after securing a work visa, and that their first child, Jomiloju, was born in London.

According to Adeoye, Akinaanu returned to Nigeria in 2010, taking their daughter without his consent, which blocked his access for over eight years despite continued financial support.

He further alleged that their second child’s birth intensified tensions, with his name omitted from the birth certificate and access denied, and described repeated reconciliation efforts as thwarted by prolonged separations, alleged extramarital relationships, and external religious influences.

“I bathed that child. We were together until she was seven,” Adeoye said emotionally of Jomiloju, insisting that he remains committed to reconciling with his children.

The burial itself reportedly began as a service of songs but quickly became a scene of public dispute, with accusations of abandonment, brainwashing, and custody battles aired at the graveside.

An emotional tribute from Jomiloju went viral online, in which she praised her late mother and criticised her father for absence.

She vowed to honour her mother’s wishes by pursuing a career in gynaecology and supporting her younger brother, William.

Niyi Peter, representing Akinaanu’s gospel colleagues, released a statement clarifying that the singer had requested a widely witnessed burial after being informed of her impending death.

He alleged that the artistes initially secured family approval and organised the arrangements, including funeral financing and commemorative items, before tensions escalated and police became involved.

Both sides of the family have continued to publicly assert their positions, with relatives defending their actions at the graveside and insisting that reconciliation attempts were hindered.

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The ongoing dispute highlights the deep-seated conflicts that accompanied the late singer’s final arrangements.

Mariam Balogun