For many Nigerians, the marriage of celebrated Nollywood actor Femi Adebayo and his wife Omotayo Sanusi, popularly known as Iyan Aladuke, was one of the industry’s admired relationships. They wed on October 9, 2016, and for years shared moments of family joy and mutual support on social media. Femi, an award-winning actor and filmmaker, and Omotayo, a restaurateur and social media personality, seemed to balance fame and family life well. But over the past year, what once appeared stable has unravelled into one of the most talked-about celebrity disputes of 2026.
From love to public discord
Signs of trouble emerged quietly in 2025, when fans noticed changes in the couple’s online presence. 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 mid 2025 the couple’s disagreements spilled into public view, with netizens sharing fragments of what appeared to be private struggles.
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.
Shortly after, 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 these painted the picture of a marriage under serious strain, even though many of the most dramatic claims remain unconfirmed.
The dispute took a dramatic turn when Omotayo accused Femi of something that shocked many followers. She claimed that on January 23, 2026, Femi had “taken almost 20 armed men to a public place” to forcefully evict her and her family from her Yaba, Lagos restaurant. According to her, the action wasn’t just about business but was a deliberate attempt to disgrace her. She alleged that even her elderly mother was thrown out with a gun present, and that he had been absent from their son’s life for about a year, only resurfacing for a staged visit to their child’s school that she called a “picture play.”
Femi’s side of that particular story has been different. His family and representatives pointed to the involvement of a bank foreclosure process due to an unpaid loan tied to the restaurant property, suggesting that the presence of officers was tied to legal recovery action and not a personal vendetta. This version highlights financial issues rather than malicious intent.
The voice notes and a friendship in ruins
Amid the growing public attention, another key development centred on actress Olatoun Olanrewaju, also known as Omomose, whose name became entwined in the dispute. In December 2025 and January 2026, Omotayo publicly suggested that Olatoun had played a part in her marital breakdown. What began as a private friendship, formed around shared experiences including parenting children with special needs, turned into bitter accusations online. Olatoun responded forcefully.
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.
Fast forward to January 29, Olatoun took to Instagram in a series of post to spill the beans.
In her posts, Olatoun insisted that contrary to some reports, she had “never had any romantic or inappropriate involvement” with Femi Adebayo. She stressed that she knew him strictly as a mentor and colleague before his marriage. She explained that her bond with Omotayo began in 2023 after the two connected over parenting and social media messaging, and she regarded her as “an aunty.”
The clash between the two women intensified when Olatoun alleged that tensions peaked during the filming of Jagun Jagun 2 in October 2024. She claimed Omotayo had done “unspeakable things” to her husband on set, which she believes marked the beginning of the marriage’s descent. Olatoun said she tried to mediate and encourage peace between the couple, but was allegedly rebuffed and blamed instead.
Accusations, denial, and leaked audio
The situation deepened when audio recordings allegedly involving Omotayo circulated online. These leaked clips, shared by Olatoun contained strong language about damaging Femi’s reputation and even targeting his online presence. According to one report, Omotayo allegedly said she wanted to bring down his Instagram account because it is something she claimed he valued deeply. She believed bringing down the account would make him “feel the heat,” and hinted that ruining his online presence was only the beginning.
Olatoun released these recordings to “clear her name,” saying she had been wrongfully blamed and that she had actually taken Omotayo to church, not to a shrine as had been suggested in earlier narratives.
In her words, shared alongside the audio:
“I took you to a church to pray. You used that as part of your story to build a lie to blackmail him to return home. I told you I was scared and you shouldn’t do it.
Instead, I was hearing from different angles that I took you to a shrine. Me, Olatoun. This is the narrative you’ve been spreading. At least now, they can know where i took you to.
You were spoiling my name and using me to blackmail him to return home. How do I defend myself without this recording?
And you continued to attack me as if I was the root cause. Tell people exactly what you did and stop blaming me.”
Olatoun described the situation as damaging to her reputation and insisted releasing the audio was her only way to defend herself.
In another section of the audio clips, Omotayo is reported to have made disturbing comments about her father-in-law, veteran Yoruba actor Adebayo Salami, popularly known in the industry as Oga Bello. The leaked audio suggested that Omotayo vowed to “destroy the name” Femi had worked to protect, including hurting his reputation in ways that would also affect his family legacy, which she tied back to his father’s standing in Nollywood. She added that “Oga Bello would have a stroke” when she is done with Femi.
Public reaction to the recordings has been mixed, with many netizens debating the ethics of recording and releasing private conversations, and others taking sides in what some call a messy celebrity feud.
What it says about life in the public eye
Throughout the controversy, Femi Adebayo himself has not spoken out. He has continued his usual activities on social media but has refused to comment on the matter online.
However, he once advised people to “believe social media at their own risk,” stressing that public curiosity often blurs truth and fiction, particularly for those living public lives.
For now, the dispute linking Femi Adebayo’s estranged wife and actress Olatoun remains unresolved. It has unfolded across social platforms, leaving netizens grappling with a story of betrayal, blame, and shattered trust.
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