January 2026's Dramatic Celebrity Marital Sagas That Captivated Nigeria
January 2026 proved to be an exceptionally turbulent month for Nigerian celebrity marriages, transforming private relationships into public spectacles that dominated social media conversations nationwide. While some couples unexpectedly reconciled after years of bitter separation, others watched their unions unravel in real-time through viral videos and explosive allegations.
Portable vs Ashabi Simple: New Year Clash Ends in Handcuffs
What began as a simple New Year's food delivery request escalated into one of January's most explosive celebrity scandals. When Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, asked Ashabi Simple to bring him food to his Ogun State bar, nobody anticipated the violent confrontation that would follow. The drama erupted when Ashabi insisted on recognition as Portable's wife rather than just a baby mama, while the singer maintained he only acknowledged Bewaji as his legal spouse.
The situation turned physical, with Ashabi later accusing Portable of assault, beatings, and threatening her siblings with an axe. Portable responded with a diss track targeting Ashabi and her family, while she countered with emotional posts describing him as manipulative and abusive. The conflict reached its peak when Ashabi and her siblings filed a police complaint, leading to Portable's highly publicized arrest on January 11.
Viral videos showed the singer crying in custody as he appeared before a Federal High Court facing charges including assault and resisting arrest. The court denied him bail, and while detained, he received news that Bewaji had given birth. Although released days later, the damage to his public image proved substantial, creating one of January's most discussed celebrity controversies.
Femi Adebayo vs Iyan Aladuke: Reconciliation Rumors Amid Eviction Claims
Femi Adebayo and his estranged wife Omotayo Sanusi, widely known as Iyan Aladuke, became another focal point of January's celebrity marital debates. Despite separating in early 2025, the situation regained attention when Iyan Aladuke shared affectionate photos and family moments with the actor, sparking widespread reconciliation rumors.
The controversy intensified when Iyan Aladuke announced the shutdown of her upscale traditional restaurant in Yaba, accusing Adebayo of sending armed men to evict her entire family, including her aged mother. However, a family member countered these claims, stating the building belonged to Adebayo and had been foreclosed by the bank due to loan repayment issues.
The family member further explained that Adebayo had relocated his ex-wife and relatives to a short-let apartment, offered to pay for another home, and consistently supported their child, including funding expensive medical treatment abroad. Actress Olatoun Olanrewaju added fuel to the fire by releasing voice notes and messages accusing Iyan Aladuke of spreading false narratives. Despite the tension, Iyan Aladuke eventually returned online and announced her food business reopening through a skit featuring Adebayo, fueling further reconciliation speculation.
Tonto Dikeh vs Olakunle Churchill: Miracle Reconciliation After Decade-Long Feud
In one of January's most shocking developments, Tonto Dikeh and her ex-husband Olakunle Churchill announced their reconciliation after nearly ten years of bitter public dispute. Their marriage, which began in 2015 and collapsed in 2017 amid allegations of infidelity and abuse, had triggered prolonged custody battles and countless online confrontations.
On January 24, Tonto publicly revealed their feud had finally ended, describing the reconciliation as divine intervention. Churchill confirmed the news and shared an emotional revelation that he had received his first phone call from their son, King Andre, since the child's birth. He credited Tonto's renewed Christian faith for helping them resolve their differences.
During a church testimony, Tonto explained that their son had included a prayer request about his passport during a 21-day prayer session, and two days later, Churchill reached out to return important documents. The former couple resumed following each other on social media, and Tonto reverted their son's surname to Churchill. Weeks later, Churchill met his son physically for the first time in years, with photos of the emotional reunion flooding social media platforms.
Omije Ojumi vs Ex-Husband: Burial Controversy Exposes Family Wounds
The tragic death of beloved gospel singer Bunmi Akinaanu, known as Omije Ojumi, on January 12, 2026, reopened painful marital wounds between her family and ex-husband Rotimi Adeoye. During her service of songs on January 28, the late singer's daughter delivered an emotional tribute describing her mother as a devoted parent who singlehandedly raised her children after their father allegedly abandoned them.
Drama exploded during the burial when Rotimi Adeoye attempted to speak with his children through a video call, triggering heated confrontations between the two families at the cemetery. Following the chaos, Adeoye publicly defended himself, insisting he was never an absent father. He alleged that after their divorce, Omije Ojumi deliberately destroyed his relationship with the children by relocating them, blocking contact, and feeding them false narratives.
Adeoye claimed he continued sending financial support but eventually stopped due to alleged insults from the late singer. He maintained that the burial confrontation forced him to speak publicly, expressing his readiness to rebuild his relationship with his children despite the tragic circumstances.
Peggy Ovire vs Frederick Leonard: Marriage Collapse Speculations Intensify
Speculation about trouble in Peggy Ovire and Frederick Leonard's marriage has been building steadily since their November 2022 wedding. The speculation grew in October 2024 when Frederick failed to publicly celebrate Peggy's birthday, though he later dismissed marital crisis reports. Fresh concerns exploded in late 2025 when filmmaker Stanley Ontop alleged the couple's union had collapsed, describing it as an arranged marriage that broke down due to violent tendencies.
Fans grew increasingly concerned when Peggy began appearing publicly without her wedding ring. She posted a solo Christmas photoshoot and locked the comment section after followers questioned her husband's absence. Social media speculations grew more convincing when Peggy removed "Leonard" from her Instagram profile, reverting to Peggy Ovire.
The situation reached a breaking point in early February 2026 when Peggy shared a cryptic post asking women how they would react if they discovered their husband was having an affair with a married woman. Though she didn't mention names, netizens quickly linked the post to Frederick. Additional allegations surfaced from a content creator claiming Frederick had asked Peggy to leave their home despite therapy attempts. With rings off, cryptic posts, and swirling allegations, their saga remains one of Nollywood's most closely watched marital dramas.
Annie Macaulay Finds Love After 2Baba Separation
In related entertainment news, Annie Macaulay revealed she has found love again after sharing a Valentine's Day surprise from her new partner. The actress separated from her husband, 2Baba, in 2025, and he later married Natasha, with whom he now has a daughter. Annie's new lover surprised her with gifts including roses, balloons, an iPhone, and a teddy bear, which were arranged in her living room. She expressed gratitude for the thoughtful gesture, noting that love is often shown through small, meaningful acts.
These five celebrity marital sagas demonstrate how Nigerian entertainment personalities' private lives have become public entertainment, with social media serving as both courtroom and theater for their most intimate conflicts and reconciliations.
