The ex-husband of late gospel singer Bunmi Akinaanu, also known as Omije Ojumi, has finally spoken out following the dramatic scenes that happened during her burial, in which their children publicly disowned him.

In an emotional interview, Rotimi William Adeoye told his side of the tale, detailing why he divorced the singer and the long-standing conflicts that led to his troubled relationship with his children.

During Omije Ojumi’s burial, her daughter, Jomiloju, openly accused her father of irresponsibility, causing a scene.

The scenario deteriorated when Rotimi attempted to approach the children, but his son apparently refused to recognise him as his father.

The footage of the incident rapidly went viral, eliciting strong reactions from Nigerians who condemned Rotimi without hearing his side of the story.

Rotimi told Legit journalist Sola Sanusi that he and Bunmi Akinaanu were lawfully married. He claims they married at the Surulere Registry in 2006 and then had a church wedding at the ECWA Church in Mushin.

The marriage resulted in two children: Jomiloju and William. Rotimi acknowledged that the union eventually ended in a legal divorce finalised in the UK.

Rotimi explained that after Bunmi returned to Nigeria, he got uncomfortable with certain parts of her lifestyle, which led to their split. He said that numerous warnings and confrontations failed, ultimately leading to the breakup of the marriage.

He also accused the late singer of surreptitiously transporting his daughter to Nigeria only months before she was scheduled to acquire her UK resident credentials.

According to Rotimi, he sought to regularise his immigration status by applying as a dependent through their daughter, but Bunmi suspected he intended to abandon her once he obtained his papers.

Rotimi alleged that Jomiloju was born in the United Kingdom and that he reared her on his own from the age of three months to seven years.

He explained that Bunmi had returned to Nigeria as her visitor’s visa was due to expire, leaving him to care for the infant alone while having immigration issues at the time.

He stated that the tipping point occurred when Bunmi allegedly stole their daughter under the guise of attending a vigil, only to later inform him that she was already in Nigeria with the child.

Rotimi said that following the incident, he lost complete control of both children. He stated that repeated attempts to reconnect were unsuccessful, and that the burial incident did not reflect his years of efforts to remain involved in their lives.

He also mentioned that members of his London church recognised him as a dedicated father who was heavily involved in Jomiloju’s upbringing.

Speaking about their kid, William, Rotimi revealed that he was born in the United States on December 25, 2013.

He stated that he gave money for baby supplies and then paid approximately £7,000 to pay delivery bills, which he claimed were around $8,000 at the time.

Rotimi stated that he recommended Bunmi to stay with his sister in the United States, a nurse married to a doctor, but she declined and chose to stay with a friend instead.

He claimed that more financial demands later prompted renewed conflict between them.

He said that the last time he saw his son was on the child’s first birthday in the UK.

Rotimi claimed that his family members in Nigeria only met the children for the first time at Bunmi Akinaanu’s song service, saying they were refused access when she was still living.

He characterised the burial confrontation as incredibly distressing, particularly hearing his daughter call him an irresponsible father despite his attempts.

Bunmi Akinaanu, also known as Omije Ojumi, was buried in Lagos on January 29, 2026, approximately two weeks after her death.

Emotional videos from the burial showed her children, family, and close friends saying their goodbyes. Many Nigerians flocked to social media to mourn the gospel singer, recalling her heartfelt melodies that inspired and soothed many.

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