Omotayo Sanusi, popularly known as Iyan Aladuke and the estranged wife of Nollywood actor and filmmaker Femi Adebayo, has dismissed viral claims linking actress Toyin Abraham to the breakdown of her marriage.
In a lengthy statement posted on her Instagram page on Wednesday, Sanusi described the allegations as untrue, maintaining that Toyin Abraham played no role in the issues that led to the end of her marriage.
She explained that although she had intentionally refrained from responding to the numerous rumours about her relationship with the actor, she decided to speak out because the claims were increasingly being treated as 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 also rejected claims that Toyin Abraham allegedly informed her that another actress was romantically involved with Adebayo during a movie production, prompting her to confront those involved.
She insisted that the allegation was entirely false.
“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 said she remained on the production from the beginning until the end and played a key role in ensuring the welfare of the cast and crew.
According to her, she and her team catered for more than 500 people throughout 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 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 chose to remain silent out of respect for everyone involved and because she preferred peace to public confrontation, stressing that her silence should not be seen as proof that the allegations were true.
“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 a separate Instagram post shared shortly after issuing the statement, Sanusi criticised what she described as the double standards of people who accepted and spread 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 drew reactions from followers, with an Instagram user identified as @akinfalorin.t urging her to also clear Funke Akindele’s name over previous allegations made by her former friend, Toun.
Responding in the comment section, Sanusi denied ever making such claims 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.
Sanusi’s clarification followed renewed online discussions sparked by a TikTok blogger, who alleged that Toyin Abraham informed her that Femi Adebayo and Funke Akindele were romantically involved during the production of Jagun Jagun Part 2.
The blogger also claimed Sanusi stormed the movie set and confronted Akindele, alleging the incident contributed to the collapse of her marriage. The claims further suggested that Akindele later turned some Nollywood producers against Toyin Abraham after learning she allegedly instigated the confrontation and linked the reported fallout to speculation surrounding Akindele’s conduct toward Abraham at Iyabo Ojo’s movie premiere in April.
The clarification comes after a member of Femi Adebayo’s family previously denied reports that the actor abandoned Sanusi following her eviction from a Lagos property.
The family member, Mrs Taiwo Abdulmalik, had explained that the property was purchased with a bank loan and later foreclosed after repayment issues. She also alleged that Sanusi knew about the loan arrangement and the bank’s plans to recover the property.
Abdulmalik further claimed that Adebayo relocated Sanusi, her relatives and staff to a short-let apartment after the foreclosure, paid for their accommodation, encouraged her to find another residence and promised to cover the cost.
She also alleged that the actor bought land in Sanusi’s name in 2022 as financial support and continued to care for their son, including spending about $50,000 on his medical treatment in India.
When contacted Sanusi at the time, she declined to comment, insisting that the issues surrounding her marriage remained private.
“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 publicly addressed one of the most persistent rumours surrounding the collapse of her marriage for the first time, distancing both Toyin Abraham and Funke Akindele from the controversy while urging an end to what she described as the continued spread of false narratives.
