The Chief Imam of Ilaro, Sheikh Tajudeen Adewumi, has clarified the purpose of the ₦25 million entrusted to him by late Yoruba actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo.
Adewumi said the money was meant to fund the reconstruction of Ogogo’s grandfather’s house and had nothing to do with a mosque project, as was rumoured following the actor’s death.
The cleric made the clarification in an interview with BBC Yoruba shared on Instagram.
Adewumi said he and Ogogo were close, having lived in the same neighbourhood.
“I am so close to Alhaji Taiwo Hassan; our houses are in the same neighbourhood,” he said.
According to the imam, Ogogo transferred the money to him after he returned from visiting the actor in hospital.
He said the actor asked him to keep the money because he intended to complete the reconstruction of his grandfather’s house, which he considered to be in poor condition.
“When I got home after visiting him at the hospital, he called and said he wanted to keep money with me so he could complete his grandfather’s house. He said the house was not in good condition and he wanted to rebuild a structure on it,” Adewumi recalled.
He said Ogogo transferred ₦25 million, explaining that he might travel to India for medical treatment.
Adewumi also said he documented the transaction and informed members of Ogogo’s family about the money while the actor was still alive.
“When I got the alert, I informed my son, Adam, to state it somewhere because we did not know who would die first, or in case anything happened to me,” he said.
The imam said he also informed Ogogo’s brother, Ayinde, and daughter, Rasheedat, that the actor had transferred the money to him for the project.
However, following Ogogo’s death in August 2026 at the age of 66, a rumour emerged that the money was intended for a mosque project.
Adewumi said he addressed the issue with the actor’s family during the seventh-day Fidau prayer.
“There was a rumour that the money with me was for the mosque project, which I had to clarify,” he said.
According to him, the family agreed that the money should be returned and transferred to Ogogo’s elder brother, Rilwan.
He said he arranged for Ogogo’s brother, Ayinde, to accompany him to the bank so the funds could be transferred to Rilwan’s account.
“Mr Rilwan will now know what to do with the money with his children. It is not for the mosque project but for his grandfather’s house, which he wanted to execute personally,” Adewumi said.
Ogogo, who was one of the recognisable faces in Yoruba-language cinema, died in August 2026 at the age of 66, prompting an outpouring of tributes from colleagues, fans and public figures.
