For years, Nollywood fans admired the love story and marriage of Femi Adebayo, one of Nigeria’s most celebrated actors and filmmakers, and his wife Omotayo Aduke Memunat Adebayo, popularly known by her culinary brand Iyanaladuke. Their romance once played out on social media with affectionate posts and celebrations, but today their relationship has become a subject of intense public scrutiny as tensions have escalated into full‑blown online controversies, serious accusations, and a high‑profile business closure.
From private vows to public battles
Femi Adebayo and Omotayo Sanusi first tied the knot on October 9, 2016, in Lagos. The wedding was described as a private affair, attended by close friends and family, as Femi explained later that he wanted to protect his wife’s privacy. The couple went on to have one child together, adding to Femi’s 3 existing children from a previous marriage. By all accounts at the time, it seemed like a strong partnership between two accomplished individuals.
In the early years of their marriage, Femi publicly celebrated milestones with Omotayo. For instance, in 2022 he surprised her with a generous cash gift on her 40th birthday, celebrating her with heartfelt social media posts.
But the happy moments eventually gave way to signs of a troubled marriage. In 2025 and early 2026, the couple’s disagreements spilled into public view, with social media users sharing fragments of what appeared to be private struggles.
Accusations, public feuds and infidelity claims
A major turning point in the crisis came on May 19, 2025, when controversial gossip platform Gistlover published a series of explosive posts alleging that Femi Adebayo and Omotayo’s marriage had been plagued for some time by repeated disputes over infidelity. According to the blog, tensions reportedly escalated during a film production in Oyo State at Ibrahim Chatta’s film village, where actress Funke Akindele was working on set with Femi Adebayo. The post claimed that Omotayo (Iyanaladuke) showed up at the location and accused Funke of being involved with her husband.
The blog further alleged that the confrontation became chaotic, with claims of heated exchanges and damage to hotel property where cast members were lodged. It also suggested that the incident deepened the rift between the couple and triggered Femi’s decision to temporarily leave the family home. Although neither Funke Akindele nor Femi Adebayo publicly confirmed that such an incident took place, the rumours put them under the radar. Netizens began watching the couple for slip-ups.
Fast forward to December 1, 2025, tensions spilled onto social media involving Omotayo and another actress, Olatoun Olanrewaju. This became a very public fallout between these two women who once appeared close.
Calling out Olatoun online, Omotayo wrote:
“The betrayal cuts deep…. How could you destroy something that beautiful? Even if I fall, you should be the one lifting me up… Even in my mistakes, you should be covering me up… You were like my sister.”
Olatoun responded in a lengthy and emotional post, firmly rejecting the accusations:
“Hey iyanaladuke, I am not the reason for your downfall. You created every bit of the situation you’re facing… You ended your marriage with your hands. You know the truth and how you ruined your marriage. Stop this reverse psychological act on social media. You need serious help. I dare you… I repeat, I dare you to show how I am to blame.”
Her response suggested there had been long‑standing private conflict between them, adding that she had “stomached” accusations for a long time before choosing to speak publicly.
As these exchanges circulated, fans noticed that Femi and Omotayo stopped appearing together online and unfollowed each other on Instagram. This small digital action often signals deeper issues in celebrity relationships. The combination of blog allegations, public call‑outs, and emotional social media statements painted the picture of a marriage under serious strain, even though many of the most dramatic claims remain unconfirmed.
Iyanaladuke shutdown, public clash and a battle over the narrative
Perhaps the most visible and impactful development came on January 24, 2026, when Omotayo’s popular restaurant, Iyanaladuke in Yaba, Lagos, was sealed by authorities amid reports of a bank repossession over an allegedly unpaid loan. Footage shared online showed uniformed officers outside the doors directing staff and visitors to vacate the business space. The restaurant itself posted on Instagram to customers: “Dear customers, due to circumstances beyond us, IYANALADUKE will be closed for now till further notice! Thank you for your love and support over the years.”
The closure sent shockwaves through social media and her customers. Iyanaladuke had become known for its Nigerian cuisine and had built a loyal following over the years.
As the shutdown made headlines, social media discussions quickly tied it to the couple’s marital crisis, with some critics accusing Femi of playing a role in the business troubles.
Days after on January 26, she shared an emotional post asserting her truth and criticizing how the matter had been publicly framed. She said she “really didn’t want to air it on social media, but here I am”, explaining that ongoing narratives about her situation were untrue. She added that she was pushed to speak out because of what she described as “false information” circulating about her.
Her post included deeply personal allegations. She wrote that she believed Femi had brought “almost 20 armed men to a public place to evict people” and insisted that the story would spread because of how it was handled. She added that her aged mother was “thrown out with a gun” even though she often came to help with their child. On top of that, Omotayo claimed Femi had staged a visit to their son’s school after allegedly being absent from their child’s life for a year, just to create positive publicity while she and their child were facing hardship. Her words were intense and pointed, revealing the depth of her frustration and hurt.
She wrote:
“You always want to silence me by targeting my reputation. I’m done keeping quiet! You can’t silence me anymore! The desperation to save your name, you don’t care who goes down! I’m not going down with your lies!”
On the other side, members of Femi Adebayo’s family publicly countered some of her claims, saying the eviction and related property issues were not deliberate actions against her but were tied to a bank foreclosure process after repayment problems on a loan used to buy the property. According to Femi’s relative while speaking with Punch, the bank began recovery actions because the loan was not serviced as agreed, and Omotayo was reportedly aware this could happen. Femi also allegedly arranged and paid for temporary accommodation for her, her family and staff once the bank moved in.
The family member further stated that Femi advised Omotayo to rent another apartment and promised to cover the cost, regardless of how expensive it might be, and that he had continued to support their son’s needs, including paying for significant medical care abroad.
These dueling narratives of one describing forceful eviction and abandonment and the other portraying a financial and legal banking issue with logistical support afterwards have left fans in a swirl of confusion. Some netizens have expressed sympathy for Omotayo’s claims, while others highlighted the complexity of bank foreclosure processes and questioned the assumptions being made about Femi’s intentions.
What this means beyond the headlines
In the space of a few months, what once looked like a strong celebrity marriage has become one of Nigeria’s most talked‑about personal dramas. Infidelity claims, social media feuds, eviction allegations, and the closure of a beloved local business have all made headlines. While some details remain unverified or are disputed by those involved, the public reactions reveal how deeply people care about the stories behind their favourite stars.
Through it all, the voices of those directly affected remind us that behind every viral headline are real lives, mixed feelings, and consequences that go beyond likes and shares.
What happens next for both Femi Adebayo and Omotayo Aduke Memunat Adebayo remains uncertain.
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