Omotayo Sanusi, popularly known as Iyan Aladuke and the estranged wife of Nollywood actor and filmmaker Femi Adebayo, has publicly denied viral allegations linking actress Toyin Abraham to the collapse of her marriage.
Breaking her silence in a lengthy statement shared on her Instagram page on Wednesday, Sanusi described the circulating claims as false, insisting that the actress was not responsible for the challenges that led to the end of her marriage.
She said she had deliberately avoided responding to the numerous rumours surrounding her relationship with the actor but decided to speak because the allegations were increasingly being presented as established facts.
“I have deliberately chosen not to publicly respond to the many false stories and allegations surrounding my marriage. However, because these narratives continue to spread and are being presented as facts, I believe it is necessary to address one of them,” she wrote.
Sanusi specifically dismissed claims that actress Toyin Abraham informed her that another actress was romantically involved with Adebayo during a movie production, prompting her to confront those allegedly involved.
According to her, the allegation is entirely fabricated.
“The allegation that actress Toyin Abraham was responsible for the problems in my marriage by allegedly informing me that another actress was with my then-partner on a movie set is completely false.
“For the record, I never confronted, attacked, assaulted, or harassed any woman or man at any movie location.
“No such incident ever took place,” she stated.
Sanusi explained that she was present throughout the production being referenced in the rumours and actively contributed to its success by overseeing the welfare of the cast and crew.
According to her, she and her team catered for more than 500 people throughout the duration of the production as part of her support for her then-husband.
“I was present on that production from the very beginning until the end of the shoot. My team and I were solely responsible for the welfare of the entire production, catering for over 500 cast and crew members for more than one month as my contribution and support to my then-partner.
“In a production involving over 500 people, I find it difficult to understand how such an incident could have allegedly occurred without a single witness, or how no one heard or witnessed this falsehood,” she added.
She further challenged anyone who genuinely believed they had been assaulted or harassed by her during the production to publicly come forward.
“I believe it is only fair that if anyone genuinely claims to have been attacked by me—directly or indirectly—they should come forward and say so themselves.
“Until then, I respectfully ask that people stop repeating and amplifying false narratives that have no basis in truth,” the actor’s estranged wife said.
Sanusi said she had maintained her silence out of respect for everyone involved and because she preferred peace to public confrontation, stressing, however, that silence should not be interpreted as an admission of guilt.
“I have remained silent out of respect for everyone involved and because I chose peace over public disputes. However, my silence should never be interpreted as an admission that these allegations are true.
“This statement serves as my official clarification on this particular allegation. I sincerely hope it brings an end to the continued circulation of this false narrative,” she said.
In another post shared on her personal Instagram page shortly after releasing the statement, Sanusi criticised what she described as the double standards of people who readily believed and promoted allegations against her but questioned her decision to defend herself.
“It’s amazing how some people have no problem sponsoring lies, promoting falsehoods, and amplifying damaging narratives about someone’s life. But the moment that person decides to speak up, present the truth, or correct the record, they’re suddenly accused of ‘doing too much.’
“So, it’s acceptable to spread lies, but it’s not acceptable to debunk them?
“What sort of hypocrisy is that?
“If you were comfortable listening to the accusations, you should be just as willing to hear the clarification. Truth deserves the same platform that lies were given.
“Silence should never be mistaken for guilt,” she wrote.
The post generated reactions from followers, with one Instagram user, identified as @akinfalorin.t, urging her to also clear Funke Akindele’s name over previous allegations from her former friend, Toun, that had circulated online.
Responding in the comment section, Sanusi denied ever making such allegations against the award-winning actress.
“You are still gullible enough to believe I said that. The fact that you chose to believe such an evil betrayal without any proof says a lot about your judgment.
“Let her provide evidence that I ever said those words, just as she brought out voice notes that were clearly edited to fit their narrative. Until then, don’t present allegations as facts,” she replied.
The clarification comes amid renewed online discussions sparked by a TikTok blogger, who claimed Toyin Abraham allegedly informed Sanusi that Adebayo and Funke Akindele were involved in a romantic relationship during the production of Jagun Jagun Part 2.
The blogger further alleged that Sanusi stormed the movie set, publicly confronted Akindele and that the incident contributed to the collapse of her marriage.
The same claims also suggested that Akindele subsequently influenced some Nollywood producers against Toyin Abraham after she found out she instigated the clash and linked the alleged fallout to speculation that Akindele ignored Abraham during Iyabo Ojo’s movie premiere in April.
Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele
PUNCH Online had earlier reported that a member of Femi Adebayo’s family dismissed claims that the actor abandoned Sanusi after she was evicted from a Lagos property.
The family member, Mrs Taiwo Abdulmalik, maintained that the property was acquired through a bank loan and was later subjected to foreclosure proceedings following repayment issues.
She also claimed Sanusi was aware of the loan arrangement and had prior knowledge that the bank intended to recover the property.
According to Abdulmalik, Adebayo relocated Sanusi, members of her family and her staff to a short-let apartment after the foreclosure and paid for their accommodation while encouraging her to secure another residence, promising to bear the cost.
The family member also alleged that Adebayo had purchased land in Sanusi’s name in 2022 as a financial backup and continued to support their son, including spending about $50,000 on his medical treatment in India.
When contacted by PUNCH Online at the time, Sanusi declined to comment on the family member’s claims, insisting the issues surrounding her marriage remained a private family matter.
“It’s a family matter. I have never granted an interview and I don’t think I want to start now. It’s really personal to me,” she had said.
With Wednesday’s statement, however, Sanusi has, for the first time, directly addressed one of the most persistent rumours surrounding the collapse of her marriage, distancing both Toyin Abraham and Funke Akindele from the controversy while calling for an end to what she described as the continued circulation of false narratives.
(Punch)
