On March 2, 2022, an Instagram user named Osinubi Omowunmi posted a story on her Instagram account in which she accused the popular Nigerian musician, Timaya of almost killing her sister, Damilola Osinubi. According to her, the singer had hit her sister with his car and driven away after she tried to confront him for the damage he had done to her vehicle while driving.
Omowunmi’s post went viral, and before long, Timaya’s actions were criticized all over social media, forcing the singer to release an official statement and apology on his Twitter account. However, his account of the events that transpired between him and Damilola Osinubi differed from her sister’s.
According to Timaya, he had fled the scene when during negotiations with Damilola, five young men began approaching his vehicle, making him grow suspicious of the situation and concerned for his wellbeing. He stated that he didn’t know that Damilola was holding on to his side mirror, leading to her being injured in the process. Timaya further informed the public that he had since been in contact with Damilola’s family and was cooperating with them to settle the matter. The statement was concluded with an apology to Damilola and assurance to his fans that he would never purposely hurt anyone.
Timaya’s statement seemed to have the desired effect as it calmed tensions and elicited accolades from his fans. However, the calm was short-lived as the victim, who has since been quiet about the issue, came out with her side of the story today.
In a lengthy Instagram post, Mrs. Damilola Osinubi narrated how Timaya was driving against traffic along Lekki-Ikate axis when he hit her car and continued on his way until a red light had allowed her to confront him. According to her, the singer—who she didn’t recognize at that time—had been very rude and unremorseful, reminding her of his status before asking for her number. She declined to give it to him because she believed it was better to solve things in person rather than remotely where he could block or ignore her.
The negotiations yielded no consensus as Timaya eventually drove off, knocking her down in the process. Mrs. Osinubi sustained injuries to her face, knees, and right hand. Her artificial acrylic nails were also forcefully pulled from her fingers. She was taken first to a pharmacy and later to Reddington Hospital by passersby, where she received fifteen stitches on her face and treatment for her other injuries.
Mrs. Osinubi, who is still recovering from injuries whose scars may never heal, ended her statement by reminding Timaya of his mortality and assuring him that his celebrity status does not place him above the law of karma. The singer has since come under fire after this recent recount of the event was made public, but he has yet to address the issue officially.