‘It broke my heart that my daughter called me irresponsible at her mother’s burial’ — Omije Ojumi’s ex-husband speaks

The former husband of late gospel singer Bunmi Akinaanu, widely known as Omije Ojumi, has spoken publicly for the first time following the emotional confrontation that played out during her burial, where their children openly rejected him in front of mourners.

In an interview after the viral incident, Rotimi William Adeoye narrated his own version of events, insisting he was never an absent father and blaming years of separation, misunderstandings and blocked access for the broken relationship with his children.

Burial scene that shocked Nigerians

Tension erupted at Omije Ojumi’s burial when her daughter, Jomiloju, accused her father of neglect. 

Matters escalated when Rotimi attempted to speak to his children over the phone at the burial, but it ended in a fiasco with the son screaming at him and kicking and being led away.

Videos of the moment spread rapidly online, sparking outrage and widespread condemnation — with many Nigerians branding Rotimi an irresponsible parent before hearing his side of the story.

“We were legally married,” ex-hubby of Omije Ojumi

Speaking with journalist Sola Sanusi, Rotimi clarified that his relationship with the late singer was not informal.

According to him, they married at the Surulere Registry in 2006 and later at ECWA Church, Mushin.

The marriage was blessed with two children, Jomiloju and William, before it crashed. Their divorce was finalised in the United Kingdom, where the husband lives.

What led to the marriage’s collapse

Rotimi claimed their marriage began to fall apart after Bunmi returned to Nigeria and adopted a lifestyle he said he struggled to accept.

He alleged repeated disagreements and confrontations created a widening gap between them.

One major turning point, he said, was when Bunmi allegedly took their daughter to Nigeria under the excuse of attending a vigil — only for him to later discover she had relocated permanently.

Rotimi said the move disrupted immigration plans he had made through their daughter’s residency process, because she was born in the UK.

He also accused his late ex-wife of shutting him off from daily contacting his children.

“I raised our daughter alone for seven years”

One of his strongest claims was that he single-handedly cared for Jomiloju in the UK from infancy until she turned seven.

He explained that Bunmi returned to Nigeria when her visitor’s visa was expiring, leaving him to raise the baby despite his own immigration struggles at the time.

According to him, he only lost full access to his daughter after she was secretly taken out of the UK to Nigeria.

Story of their son’s birth

Rotimi also spoke about their son William, who he said was born in the United States on Christmas Day in 2013.

He claimed he sent money for baby supplies and paid roughly £7,000 toward childbirth costs.

Rotimi said he suggested that Bunmi stay with his medically trained relatives in the US, which she declined.

He claimed that she stayed with her friends from where she allegedly made frivolous financial demands on him. This, according to him, increased the tension between them.

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

Cut off from the children until burial

Rotimi alleged that his family in Nigeria never met the children while Bunmi was alive and only saw them for the first time during the funeral ceremonies.

He described the public rejection at the burial as heartbreaking, saying it erased years of private efforts he made to remain involved in their lives.

According to him, members of his church in London can testify to how actively he participated in raising his daughter before the separation.

Omije Ojumi laid to rest

The gospel singer was buried in Lagos on January 29, 2026, about two weeks after her death.

Her burial drew emotional scenes as fans, family, and colleagues celebrated her life and ministry, remembering her for songs that brought comfort and spiritual encouragement to many.

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