Olaiya Igwe refuses Tope Alabi’s wedding car request, revealing fear not malice was behind his decision to withhold his prized Mercedes-Benz

Olaiya Igwe refuses Tope Alabi years ago when she asked to borrow his car for her wedding, a decision the veteran Yoruba actor now says was driven purely by fear rather than ill will.

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The actor, whose real name is Ebun Oloyede, made the candid revelation during Tope Alabi’s 55th birthday celebration, stirring both laughter and nostalgia among guests.

Olaiya explained that at the time, he had just bought a Mercedes-Benz V-Boot, a prized possession he nicknamed “Ololade Mr Money 1” after the success of one of his movies.

According to him, the gospel singer had personally visited to inform him of her upcoming wedding and politely asked to use the car for the occasion. Initially, he agreed—but fear later got the better of him.

“She informed me about her wedding, and I had just bought a car. But after she left, I had a second thought: what if armed robbers snatched the car from them?” Olaiya recalled.

He revealed that his hesitation stemmed from a traumatic experience in Ibadan, where the same vehicle was once stolen while he was promoting his film. Though it was recovered, the incident left him wary of letting anyone else drive it.

“A day before the wedding, I stopped picking Tope’s calls. I didn’t give her the car. I disappointed Tope Alabi—not out of malice but fear of losing what I had just acquired,” he confessed.

The actor said he later sought forgiveness from Tope Alabi, admitting that the guilt of that decision still lingers decades later.

Despite the awkward past, the revelation came with a light-hearted tone as both entertainers have since maintained mutual respect.

Meanwhile, during her 55th birthday celebration, Tope Alabi’s husband, Soji Alabi, surprised her with a brand-new Lexus SUV, symbolising both love and renewed blessings in their union.