Oluwo of Iwo’s Ex Wife, Chanel Chin Breaks Silence, Clears Ooni Of Ife And Accuses Oluwo Of Neglect
Chanel Chin, former wife of the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, has dismissed the monarch’s recent claims and clarified that the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, had no role in her marriage. In a recent interview, Chin recounted her turbulent experience at the palace, saying she endured challenges that ultimately forced her to leave with her son. She alleged that they were expelled under pressure and denied access to most of their belongings. According to her, the Oluwo often justified his conduct by citing his royal status. “I’ll catch him red-handed. He will say, but I’m a king, I’m allowed. Nobody will say anything because I’m allowed to as a king. So what can I do? It’s just me and my baby. Then when I go and consult with older women in Yoruba culture, they will say, ‘Olori, just put it to God. You don’t leave your husband in Yoruba. You don’t leave your husband’s house.’” Chin explained that her foreign upbringing made it difficult for her to understand certain traditions. “My father is Jamaican. My mother is British. I was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. I don’t know anything about juju until I came to Iwo,” she said. She further recalled being given only one hour to pack before leaving the palace. “For that five months, me and my baby were walking along in Lagos with our luggage. I had 60 minutes to pack four years of my life. He had police standing over me while I wasn’t allowed to take any of my clothes, all my wigs, my makeup, my hair. He said to leave it. It’s for the next Olori. This is our culture.” Reacting to the monarch’s accusations, Chin stressed that her introduction to Oba Akanbi was through a respected Lagos ruler, not the Ooni of Ife. She also accused the Oluwo of neglecting their son, Prince Oduduwa. “The Oluwo had been absent from his son’s life for over five years. He only resurfaced in August this year in Canada, refused to sign passport papers but dropped $500, the first support Oduduwa ever received from him since we left the palace,” she said. Chin called on the public to ignore false claims targeting the Ooni of Ife and urged traditional leaders to caution the Oluwo. She concluded, “This shall be my final statement on the matter.” Olori Chanel Chin, ex-wife of Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi reveals her story while staying with Oluwo in Iwo pic.twitter.com/B2ojtL344e — Tobi Adisa (@deeduke1) October 2, 2025
