The burial of gospel singer Bunmi Akinnaanu, popularly known as Omije Ojumi, has become a painful reminder of how unresolved family issues can overshadow grief. What should have been a moment of quiet farewell instead drew public attention for the wrong reasons, leaving many unsettled and raising questions about how deeply private disputes can intrude into moments of mourning.
Akinnaanu, best known for her song ‘Omije Ojumi’, died on January 12, at a Lagos hospital after a period of illness. She was 46. A graduate of Lagos State University, where she studied industrial relations and personnel management, she raised her two children largely on her own while building a career in gospel music that resonated with many Nigerians.
At a service of songs held in her honour in Akowonjo, Egbeda, Lagos, her children spoke openly about the woman behind the music. Her first daughter, Jomiloju, delivered a tribute that revealed a life defined by sacrifice, resilience and responsibility.
In a viral video obtained by this newspaper on Thursday, she described her mother as “the best mother in the world” and the only person who ever made her feel truly special.
Jomiloju said her mother raised her and her brother single handedly and devoted her life entirely to them.
“Thank you to Uncle Wale, her big brother, for everything he did. He did the unexpected, and I’m so proud of him. Ever since my father left me, he has not cared. He did not call. Imagine, now he’s calling. When he knows that someone has gone, he’s calling. My mother was the best. If there were another word I could use to describe her, I would say it, because there’s nothing in this world I can compare her to.
“My mother aimed to make sure that the mistakes she made in her life, both marital mistakes, both financial mistakes, both Godly mistakes that she made, don’t reflect on my brother and my life. So she wanted everything good in this world to be for us.”
She said their mother ensured they attended good schools and never begged for money, always doing her best to provide.
“So I can be a gynaecologist, and my brother can be an actor. Oh God, I thank you, Lord. But it’s a shame, and it’s a pity that she left so early. She doesn’t wait to eat the fruit of her labour. I did not expect any of these things to happen. Although she was saying it, and my mother, every time she says something, it will surely come to pass.
“When she was limping on the leg, I said, ‘Mummy, this is not normal,’ but she said, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.’ She had already planned everything. She always told me, ‘Always make a plan for tomorrow. The things you do today will feature tomorrow.’ My mother always had respect for people.”
Her son, Bobby Adeoye, also paid tribute, describing his mother as loving, attentive and deeply involved in his life.
“My mother was a very loving, beautiful and caring person to me, actually. So she was very very strong. She will do anything to see me come first in anywhere or even class. Anytime I come back from school, she always wants to know what happened. So, that is the loving part about mommy. She’s the best mother in the world to me.
“When I heard she was dead, I was not that surprised because she had always been saying it. She has always been saying it. She cracked jokes to make everywhere lively, and that’s the main reason why I also miss mommy. I know you’re dead right now, but you will always be alive in my heart and in my dreams. I love you mommy. May your soul rest in peace.”
While emotions were still raw, controversy followed. Shortly after her death, gospel singer Alayo Melody publicly announced burial arrangements online, stating that Omije Ojumi would be laid to rest on January 21. The announcement quickly spread across social media.
However, the plans were later cancelled, triggering confusion and tension. Omije Ojumi’s brother in law, Femi Eretan, said the family was shocked to discover that burial arrangements had been fixed without consultation.
According to him, he first learned of the plans through posters circulating online.
“I was at work when I received the shocking news that Bunmi Akinnanu, popularly known as Omije Ojumi, had passed away. I rushed home, only to see posters announcing that her colleagues were handling her burial. Surprised, I immediately called her elder brother, who was with her at the time of her passing. I asked why a burial date was chosen without consulting us, her in laws. He admitted he was overwhelmed and confused that day, so he allowed gospel singer Alayo Melody to fix the date. He later apologized.”
Eretan said he made several attempts the following day to reach Alayo Melody to discuss shifting the burial date from January 21 to January 28, to allow the family make proper arrangements and fully participate.
“The next morning, I reached out to Alayo Melody, first by message, then by phone. His response was dismissive. He insisted he wasn’t ready to discuss anything related to Bunmi Akinnanu. I tried to explain that we only wanted to shift the burial from January 21 to January 28 to allow proper arrangements. Bunmi had family, children and in laws who deserved to be involved. Her passing affected us deeply, far more than her colleagues. But Alayo refused to listen.”
He added that even efforts to involve elders within the gospel music community failed.
“I even appealed to elders among the gospel singers to intervene, yet Alayo remained adamant. Whenever we called, he would bluntly ask if it was about Bunmi Akinnanu, and then refuse to engage. It felt as though he believed we were too poor to handle the burial, which was insulting.”
The brother in law further alleged that Alayo Melody went beyond fixing a burial date by actively discouraging other gospel singers from participating once the family decided to take over arrangements.
“The most shocking part was when we began informing Bunmi’s colleagues about the new date. Many told us that Alayo Melody had warned them to stay away from the burial arrangements entirely. This is deeply painful and unfair.”
Eretan also dismissed claims that the family sought public funds for the burial, insisting that no money was begged for at any point.
Eventually, a new burial arrangement was agreed upon, and Omije Ojumi was laid to rest days later. But even at the cemetery, during the funeral, tension resurfaced after her estranged husband attempted to speak with the children via video call, leading to an emotional confrontation that later circulated online.
In one clip, a relative told the boy that his father loved him and that they were his family. The child reacted angrily, shouting that he was already loved at home.
The videos sparked mixed reactions online, with many expressing concern for the children and questioning why unresolved disputes were allowed to play out during a burial.
Beyond the cancelled dates, public accusations and emotional scenes, the most powerful voices remained those of two children mourning their mother. In their words, Omije Ojumi was not defined by controversy, but by sacrifice, discipline and unwavering love.
For them, she was not a burial dispute or a social media argument, but a woman who lived for her children and planned carefully for their future, even as her own life drew to a close.
