Late actress Temitope Osoba and fiancé, Prophet Itunu Onadeko. Credit: TikTok/Tope Osoba fans
Prophet Itunu Onadeko, the fiancé of late Nollywood actress, Temitope Osoba, has recounted how their relationship began, revealing that the actress first met him when she visited his church for prayers.
Onadeko disclosed this in an interview with the Celestial Reality Check (Media Investigative Unit of the CCC) on Saturday while speaking about his relationship with the actress, who died at the age of 40.
According to the prophet who serves as the Shepherd-in-charge of CCC Onibuore Cathedral, Bogije, Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos State, Osoba was introduced to him by her younger sister, who told him that the actress wanted him to pray for her.
He said he was already familiar with Osoba as an actress and was particularly fond of her work in Yoruba-language Nollywood movies.
Recounting their first meeting, Onadeko said, “It was her younger sister that told me that her elder sister, Temitope, wanted me to pray for her. I told her sister that Temitope Osoba is the only actress I like in Yoruba Nollywood movies.
“So I told her sister that although I’ve seen her before, I didn’t know that she was staying around. Upon meeting me and complaining about her problems, I prayed for her.
“So after the third day of completing her redemption work, she came back and we were already friends then.”
He said their friendship subsequently developed into a romantic relationship after Osoba allegedly expressed interest in marrying him.
“One night when she came, she saw me buying food outside and asked if I don’t have a wife. I told her. And she joked that she liked me and wanted me to be my wife.
“We started talking and developed feelings for ourselves and eventually started dating,” he added.
Onadeko, who described himself as a divorcee, also spoke about Osoba’s alleged struggle with drug addiction, saying he was unaware of it when their relationship began.
“Tope was a drug addict and I didn’t know about it on time. I never took her to rehab after noticing because I didn’t have money for it,” he said.
The prophet further said he did not know about Osoba’s previous relationships before they became lovers, noting that she only told him about a former boyfriend whom she described as a Yahoo boy.
“I didn’t know who she was dating before we started having an affair. She only told me that she once dated a Yahoo boy who ran away with her car.
“I told her not to explain further because she always doesn’t want to listen to stories about my ex-wife too,” he said.
Onadeko also denied ever praying for any former husband of the actress.
“I never prayed for any Tope’s ex-husband before,” the prophet said.
His account comes amid renewed scrutiny of Osoba’s personal life following her death, with various claims about her relationships and circumstances before her death circulating on social media.
PUNCH reports that Osoba’s death was announced on Wednesday by fellow actor, Alesh Sanni, who described her as his “dearest sister.” She died at the age of 40.
The actress had previously spoken publicly about her battle with cancer and, after announcing her recovery, returned to the movie industry in August 2025.
She described the experience as a life-changing journey focused on healing, growth and empowerment.
However, following her death, her family warned the public and the media against reports about the circumstances surrounding her demise that were not authorised by them.
The family, in a statement shared through Osoba’s official social media page, described several claims circulating on social media and blogs as “false, speculative, and entirely unauthorized,” while urging the public to allow them time to mourn.
Meanwhile, the family has fixed Thursday, August 13, 2026, for the actress’ burial in Iperu Remo, Ogun State.
According to the burial announcement, the funeral service will hold between 10am and 11am at Saint James Anglican Church, Iperu Remo, while her interment will follow immediately at Iperu Remo Cemetery.
Mourners were also asked to wear white for the burial ceremony.
Friends and colleagues of the actress are also expected to hold a candlelight and artiste night in her honour on Tuesday, August 11, at LTV 8, popularly known as the Blueroof, in Ikeja, Lagos.
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