By Gloria Drealomalicha
Prophet Itunu Onadeko, fiancé of late Nollywood actress Temitope Osoba, has claimed that the actress died at a police station in Ikorodu, Lagos State, contrary to reports and speculation linking her death to complications from breast cancer.
Onadeko made the claim during an interview with the Celestial Reality Check, the Media Investigative Unit of the Celestial Church of Christ, on Saturday.
The prophet, who is the Shepherd-in-Charge of CCC Onibuore Cathedral, Bogije, in the Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos, also denied a number of allegations surrounding the actress’ final days, including claims that she was poisoned, maltreated or subjected to inhumane treatment.
According to him, he received a call from an unidentified person around midnight informing him that Osoba had died at a police station in Ikorodu.
“It was a random person that called me around 12 am that she died in a police station in Ikorodu,” he said.
Onadeko, however, admitted that he did not know the particular police station where Osoba allegedly died, adding that he reported himself at a nearby station after hearing the news.
He said Osoba had earlier expressed her desire to visit one Mrs Kehinde Osoba, who he said also runs a church, shortly before her death.
“She had insisted to see Mrs Kehinde Osoba. She also has a church, although she said she wanted to see me too. When they left for there, I told them that I wasn’t chanced to go that day because of church programmes,” he said.
He added that the hairdresser with whom Osoba was staying accompanied her on the trip.
“The hairdresser that Tope was sleeping in her place was the person that went with her. We maintained communication and she even posted ‘Ogo tun tun’ until I heard that she died in the police station,” he said.
Fiancé denies cancer caused death
Osoba had previously spoken publicly about her battle with breast cancer, including undergoing treatment and surgery. In 2024, the actress announced her return to the public space after the experience, describing the period as one that brought healing, growth and empowerment.
However, Onadeko insisted that while the actress had battled cancer and undergone surgery, the disease was not responsible for her death.
He recalled meeting Osoba when she was preparing for cancer surgery and said he had prayed for her before she underwent the procedure.
“When I first met her, after I did a redemption prayer for her, she told me she wanted to do a surgery on cancer. I prayed for her. In fact, the day she planned for her surgery, she did a skit with Boda Wasiu and then we moved to Evacare Hospital,” he said.
The prophet also denied allegations that he had access to money donated to Osoba for her cancer treatment or used the funds to build his church.
He questioned claims that the actress received N30m for her surgery, insisting that any money donated to her was paid into her own account.
“Who has evidence that the money she got for her surgery was N30m? It wasn’t my account they sent the money to; it was hers. And I didn’t use the money to build a church as rumoured.
“What I know is that people gave her money, including Mike Adenuga, who offered her a cheque. I never had access to her money,” he said.
Onadeko added that the church he leads had existed long before he met Osoba.
“I met Tope like two years ago and the church has been there for 20 years ago. The church was complete before she even joined us. It had been roofed and painted,” he said.
‘She drove her car herself’
The prophet also rejected claims that Osoba was prevented from driving her car, saying she drove herself when she travelled to Iperu shortly before her death.
“She drove the car out herself. She was going to Iperu one Sunday. I don’t know why she went to Iperu, neither do I know who she was going to meet there, but I think it is her mother’s side,” he said.
According to him, Osoba had reservations about visiting her maternal family because she believed she had not been treated well by them.
He said he nevertheless encouraged her to maintain contact with her family, particularly because they were planning to get married.
Fiancé speaks on smoking allegation
Onadeko further disclosed that Osoba struggled with a smoking habit, saying he had encouraged her to stop.
“She was dealing with smoking habit and I wanted her to leave it. All the church members know about her smoking habit,” he said.
He also denied claims that the actress was maltreated before her death, including allegations that faeces or urine was poured on her body as punishment for allegedly stealing biscuits.
According to him, there was no period when Osoba was subjected to such treatment or placed under duress while they lived together.
“When we were living together, we borrowed each other money. She bought gold for herself and me. But she eventually sold them and we both spent the money. There has never been a time that we were under duress,” he said.
Onadeko explained that the house where Osoba lived belonged to her uncle and was not a rented apartment.
He added that following her surgery, the actress gave her uncle N1m after he insisted that she should contribute something towards her stay in the house.
‘She left the church three weeks before her death’
The prophet also dismissed allegations that Osoba drank poison before her death.
He said the actress had left the church about three weeks before she died and that he contacted one of her uncles, identified as Taiwo, after learning of her death.
“She left the church about three weeks ago before her death. Since she died, I didn’t call any of her family. It was one of her uncles, Taiwo, that I called, but he was really mad at me and insisted that he didn’t want to speak with me,” he said.
The StarNews NG had reported earlier that Osoba died on Wednesday at the age of 40.
She is scheduled to be buried on Thursday, August 13, 2026, in Iperu Remo, Ogun State.
However, as of the time of filing this report, Onadeko’s claims had not been independently verified, and the exact circumstances and cause of Osoba’s death had not been officially established.
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