The family of late Nollywood actress Temitope Osoba has recounted the circumstances surrounding her final moments, claiming that the actress repeatedly said she would die on the day she eventually passed away.
Osoba’s maternal aunt, Pejuola Ogunesan, made the disclosure during an interview with actor Kunle Afod alongside another family member, Dupe, on Sunday.
According to Pejuola, Osoba told her while they were at a police station that her fiancé, Prophet Itunu Onadeko, had allegedly told her that she would die that day.
The revelation comes amid controversy surrounding the circumstances of the actress’ death, with Onadeko having previously given his own account of what happened in the final days of her life.
Pejuola said she and Osoba had become estranged after the actress left Evercare Hospital, Lekki, in 2023 with Onadeko and actress Foluke Daramola while receiving treatment for breast cancer.
She explained that Osoba had accused members of her family of taking away her phone while she was preparing for surgery and subsequently blocked them.
“When she called me that she was going to die that day, although we were not on good terms after she left Evercare Hospital in Lekki with her fiancé, Prophet Itunu Onadeko, and actress Foluke Daramola in 2023,” Pejuola said.
She added that Osoba had complained that she was unable to sleep and was seeing strange things, including monsters and her fiancé, while also believing that she would die.
Pejuola said the actress eventually identified her and her sister as her aunties when they met at the police station.
According to her, Osoba was on her way to meet a prophetess, Kehinde Osoba, whom she considered a family member, after being advised to seek spiritual intervention over the strange dreams she had been experiencing.
“She would complain of not being able to sleep, seeing monsters and the fiancé. Now that Aunty Peju is here, she would die. She mentioned that the fiancé had told her that they would post her obituary that day,” she recounted.
Pejuola further alleged that Osoba jumped out of a vehicle after officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority stopped a vehicle ahead of them.
She said the actress told one of the officials that she did not know where they were taking her and insisted that they should be taken to a police station.
The aunt also alleged that Osoba subsequently told her that she had been humiliated and abused, while making several allegations against Onadeko.
According to Pejuola, the actress claimed that Onadeko had relationships with several women and had asked her to leave his home and pretend that they had separated for two months. She said Osoba subsequently stayed with her hairstylist.
Pejuola also said Osoba told her that she had suffered three miscarriages despite previously being advised not to become pregnant within five years of her surgery.
The family later contacted the prophetess Osoba intended to visit, but she reportedly asked them not to bring the actress to her church and promised to pick her up after her programme.
However, Pejuola said they waited for several hours before discovering that the church was locked and they were unable to reach the prophetess.
The family subsequently took Osoba to another church, where prayers were offered after she became distressed.
“She was just saying that the guy said she would die today,” Pejuola added.
According to her, Osoba later stayed with members of the family, but her condition deteriorated.
She said the actress subsequently made a social media post titled “Ogo tuntun” (new glory), sent messages to several people and complained that she was uncomfortable.
As her condition worsened, the family took her to a hospital before they were referred to the Ogun State University Teaching Hospital.
Pejuola said Osoba died shortly after they arrived at the hospital.
“When we got there, they referred us to OSUTH. Suddenly, she just defecated in the car. Her head suddenly dropped. Before we could get to the emergency, she was confirmed dead,” she said.
The family’s account comes days after Osoba’s fiancé, Onadeko, spoke about the circumstances surrounding her death and disputed some claims that had emerged following her demise, particularly reports that she died at a police station.
The conflicting accounts have raised questions about the actress’ final movements, her relationship with those around her and the events that preceded her death.
Osoba, who featured in several Nollywood productions, died at the age of 40.
Her burial is scheduled to take place in Iperu-Remo, Ogun State, where family members, colleagues and friends are expected to gather to pay their final respects.
