Fresh controversy has erupted following the emotional but chaotic burial of late gospel singer Bunmi Akinnaanu, popularly known as Omije Ojumi, as her estranged husband, Rotimi Adeoye, broke his silence with explosive allegations that have deepened an already bitter family feud.
What was intended to be a solemn farewell for the beloved Nigerian gospel artiste descended into public confrontation, sparking widespread debate across social media and gospel music circles.
Burial Chaos Sparks Online Outrage
Reports indicate that the service of songs, initially marked by worship and tributes, spiralled into heated exchanges at the graveside. Allegations of abandonment, infidelity, child custody manipulation and long-standing marital disputes were openly traded among family members and associates, turning the burial into a viral spectacle.
Days later, fresh revelations surfaced through a YouTube broadcast on Yeye Kudi Courtroom TV, where a woman played a recorded phone conversation allegedly featuring Adeoye. In the audio, the man detailed his marriage to the late singer, their separation and his strained relationship with their children.
Inside Omije Ojumi’s Marriage and Divorce
Adeoye revealed that he married Akinnaanu in 2006, beginning with a court wedding at the Surulere Magistrate Court, followed by a church ceremony at ECWA Church, Mushin.
According to him, the marriage began to unravel around 2010, citing migration challenges to the United Kingdom, financial struggles and personal disagreements.
He claimed the union was eventually dissolved between 2017 and 2018, with custody of their children becoming the core of the conflict.
Ex-Husband Denies Abandonment Claims
Now reportedly based abroad and remarried, Adeoye rejected claims that he abandoned his children. He alleged that Akinnaanu returned to Nigeria in 2010 with their daughter under the guise of a short visit, shortly before the child’s UK residency documentation was due.
“She blocked every access I had to reach you,” he said in one of several voice notes circulated online, claiming his attempts to contact the children through schools even resulted in police intervention.
Adeoye insisted he sent substantial financial support—sometimes running into thousands of pounds—and paid school fees, but was cut off from the children for over eight years. He further alleged that the children were “brainwashed” against him and called for DNA tests while vowing to pursue custody through legal channels.
“I bathed that child. We were together until she was seven,” he said emotionally while speaking about his daughter.
Second Child, Renewed Tensions
Adeoye also claimed that tensions escalated after the birth of their second child, alleging that although he financed the delivery, his name was excluded from the birth certificate.
He said the last time he saw his son was on the boy’s first birthday and that repeated efforts to reunite with both children failed.
He attributed the collapse of reconciliation attempts to prolonged separation, alleged extramarital relationships and religious influences that encouraged Akinnaanu to remain in Nigeria.
Daughter’s Viral Tribute Fuels Debate
The controversy intensified after a heartfelt tribute by their teenage daughter, Jomiloju, went viral during the service of songs. In her emotional speech, she praised her mother as “the best woman in the world” while accusing her father of abandonment.
“Ever since my father left me, he did not care. He did not call. Imagine now he’s calling when he knows that someone has left,” she said, revealing that an uncle stepped in as a father figure.
She pledged to honour her mother’s legacy by pursuing a career in Gynaecology and supporting her younger brother, William.
Gospel Artistes, Family Trade Accusations
Adding another layer to the saga, a representative of Akinnaanu’s gospel music colleagues, Niyi Peter, released a video accusing the family of frustrating burial plans.
He claimed the late singer had requested a widely witnessed burial after doctors informed her of her declining health.
According to him, gospel artistes initially received family approval and commenced preparations, with singer Alayo Melody allegedly funding key arrangements, including the coffin, burial space, hall and over 100 branded T-shirts.
Peter alleged that the family later rejected the plan, involved the police and opposed the artistes’ participation, even claiming that a woman who stayed with Akinnaanu during her illness was arrested and pressured to surrender her phone.
Family Pushes Back
In response, Akinnaanu’s family denied being problematic, expressing shock at what they described as the rushed announcement of burial arrangements online. They insisted they independently organised the burial using pooled family resources.
Adeoye’s relatives have also defended their actions at the graveside, alleging the children were manipulated and that reconciliation efforts before the burial were deliberately blocked.
As both families continue to air their grievances publicly, the burial of Omije Ojumi has become one of the most talked-about controversies in Nigeria’s gospel music scene, raising broader questions about family disputes, grief and the limits of public confrontation.
