The Ogun State Police Command has confirmed it is investigating the deaths of Celestial Church of Christ evangelist Abidemi Odukoya and his wife, Adenike, following an alleged domestic altercation at their residence in the Akinode/Ibogun community. The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday, August 25, and both bodies have since been buried.
Neighbours Discover Wife in Pool of Blood
Adejimi Olawumi, a former Chairman of the Community Development Association (CDA), told reporters that neighbours were alerted by cries for help around 1 a.m. on the day of the incident. He said he rushed towards the scene after hearing people shouting "thief, thief."
"On my way out, I saw Daniel. I asked him what happened, and he said it was his mum and dad," Olawumi recounted in a video shared by Arole TV. Residents entered the house and found Adenike lying in a pool of blood. There was no vehicle immediately available to take her to the hospital, he added.
The couple's son reportedly told those at the scene that he had been in a separate room and did not witness what happened between his parents. As residents searched for Odukoya, who was not at the house, they later learnt that he had reportedly been struck by a vehicle in the Ifo area of Ogun State.
Family Confirms History of Disagreements
"The police took him to the hospital, and we confirmed that he was the one," Olawumi said, adding that the CDA subsequently made arrangements to bring Odukoya's body home.
In a separate video circulating online, the evangelist's younger sister said the couple had a history of disagreements. She noted that they had visited her around April following an earlier altercation, and the matter was resolved at a police station. "I only told them to be patient with each other because it is not right for a husband and wife to fight against each other. They had been fighting for a very long time, and people helped them settle it. And now we just heard that the husband and wife are dead," she said.
According to the family, Adenike was buried on the day of the incident, while Odukoya was laid to rest on Wednesday, September 2. Footage seen by Punch Metro showed clerics conducting burial rites over the evangelist's remains at an undisclosed location.
Police Confirm Investigation
The exact circumstances surrounding the deaths had not been fully established at the time of reporting. Ogun State Police deputy spokesman, Opeyemi Oluborode, confirmed the incident and said the command was investigating. "The police is investigating the incident," Oluborode said.
The deaths come amid other incidents involving Celestial Church of Christ members. Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Nollywood actress Temitope Osoba died aged 40, shortly after celebrating her recovery from breast cancer. The Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide addressed allegations surrounding her death and her fiancé, Prophet Itunu Onadeko, explaining that it is investigating the matter with law enforcement and promised sanctions if the allegations against Onadeko are proven true.
