Acclaimed Nollywood actress Ronke Odusanya has finally broken her silence about the painful circumstances that led to the collapse of her marriage to Saheed Olarewaju, popularly known as Jago. Speaking candidly in an intimate interview with fellow actress Bimpe Akintunde, Odusanya shared the harrowing tale of betrayal, false accusations, and personal struggles that marked the end of her marriage.
The actress disclosed that her marital troubles escalated when a close friend betrayed her trust by fabricating malicious stories about her character to her then-husband. According to Odusanya, this former friend falsely claimed that she had abandoned her marriage to pursue a promiscuous lifestyle, even going so far as to allege that she had taken their daughter, Fife, to spend nights at a senator’s residence.
“When I heard what had been said about me, I was completely stunned,” Odusanya recalled during the emotional interview. The reality of her situation was far from these scandalous claims. At the time of her departure from the marital home, the actress revealed she had merely N10,000 to her name and was forced to seek refuge at her brother’s residence. The stark contrast between the luxurious lifestyle she was accused of pursuing and her actual circumstances paints a poignant picture of her struggles.
The situation took an even more distressing turn when Odusanya discovered that all her jewelry had been confiscated, leading to a physical collapse. “I fainted when I realized my jewelry was gone. The weight of starting over from nothing was overwhelming, and I spent that day in tears, unsure of how to secure even basic accommodation,” she shared.
In what appears to be a testament to her foresight during these trying times, Odusanya had the presence of mind to document her whereabouts on the night in question. By God’s grace, I managed to record a video showing the time and date of where we actually spent the night,” she explained, highlighting how this evidence later helped clear her name.
The marriage controversy reached its peak in February 2021 when Olarewaju publicly questioned the paternity of their daughter. In an unprecedented move, he appeared before the Court requesting a DNA test to establish paternity. While the Court granted his request, Odusanya’s legal team stipulated that Olarewaju would need to bear the financial responsibility for the testing.
However, in a surprising turn of events nearly a year later, February 2022 saw Olarewaju make a public retraction via his Instagram platform. In an emotional video, he expressed deep remorse for doubting his daughter’s paternity and acknowledged that his actions were influenced by the tumultuous events of their past. He affirmed his love for their daughter and his certainty about being her biological father.
Perhaps the most revealing aspect of this saga is Odusanya’s disclosure that her ex-husband eventually recognized his error in giving credence to the malicious rumors. “He later came to realize that he shouldn’t have listened to those false allegations,” she stated, suggesting a belated understanding of the damage caused by unverified accusations.
This dramatic chapter in Odusanya’s life serves as a stark reminder of how malicious gossip and betrayal can devastate personal relationships. It also highlights the resilience of individuals who, despite facing public humiliation and personal hardships, manage to maintain their dignity and eventually find vindication.
As this story continues to resonate within Nigerian entertainment circles, it raises important questions about the vulnerability of public figures to personal attacks and the importance of truth in an era where reputations can be destroyed by unfounded allegations. For Odusanya, sharing her story appears to be both a means of setting the record straight and a step toward healing from a painful chapter in her life.
