Itunu Onadeko, fiancé of late Nollywood actress Temitope Osoba, has said she died at a police station in Ikorodu, Lagos.
Onadeko, Shepherd-in-Charge of Celestial Church of Christ, Onibuore Cathedral, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, made the disclosure during an interview with the church’s media unit.
He said he learnt of Osoba’s death through a random caller who claimed to be from Mainland.
“Someone called me around after 12 midnight. The person said he was from Mainland. It’s a random call. He said she died at police station in Ikorodu.”
Onadeko also said Osoba struggled with drug addiction, which badly affected her, but insisted he never bullied her.
“The level of the kolos (hard drug) was dealing with her and we talked to her to get out of it because it was affecting her and me. All the church members were aware. She couldn’t listen. Tope wasn’t a very easy, calm person. If she likes, she likes you. If you’re troublesome. She was a very troublesome person too.
“I never for once bullied her. I never told her you’re stupid. The first time she wanted to act violent, I told her that if God is existing, I’ll never use my hands to touch you.”
He said he did not know about her cancer when they first met but stood by her during her treatment.
“I didn’t know how the cancer started. When we met, she told me she wanted to do a surgery at the hospital after a prayer I organised for her at the church. She told me she had cancer. I prayed for her that she’d be healed,” he added.
Onadeko also denied claims that he used donations meant for Osoba’s cancer surgery to develop his church, saying he never accessed her money.
“Who has evidence that the money was N30, 000,000? One, they didn’t send the money to my account but hers. The only thing I know is that people gave her money, including Mike Adenuga who gave her a cheque. I never had access to her money. I didn’t receive any money from her to build the church, which is going to be 20 years soon.
“When we’re together, we shared money between each other. She bought gold for herself and I bought for her. There was never a time I put her under duress to bring money, because we’re not hungry too,” he said.
“Since her death, I had only called one elder brother of hers, Taiwo. When I called him, he was angry on the phone. Even when we got to the police station close to our house, he said he didn’t want to speak with me,” he added.
The interview came amid allegations against Onadeko on social media, days after Osoba died at 40.
Her colleague, Alesh Sanni, announced her death on Instagram, writing, “Couldn’t sleep since last night. It’s well rest in peace my dearest sister Temitope Osoba we had amazing time and good memories together till we meet again. I really dunno what to say mehn.”
Osoba died a year after she shared a video about plans to return to acting after surviving breast cancer.
