Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo has opened up about the ongoing tension between Toyin Abraham and Funke Akindele, revealing what sparked their disagreement and her attempts to bring them together.
The feud resurfaced publicly when Funke Akindele appeared to snub Toyin Abraham at the premiere of Iyabo’s movie Return of Arinzo, drawing reactions from fans and industry watchers. Videos from the event showed Akindele seemingly ignoring Abraham, reigniting speculation about long-standing issues between the two.
Addressing the matter on Instagram, Iyabo said: “For those of you maligning my character, insulting me, and calling me unprintable names, this is for you!! Now, I need to set the record straight. This is the first and last time I will be talking about anything like this. Funke and I have been friends for the longest, but there were times we fell out, fault on both sides. I once came online to drag Funke because of Toyin’s movie. That was a wrong move on my part; I should have handled it better.”
She revealed that she tried her best to reconcile the two actresses, even going as far as crying, kneeling, and pleading for peace. “I tried my very best to settle both of them… they both later did, the reason you saw them a few months ago interacting with one another,” she said.
Iyabo noted that tensions flared again in December when Toyin expressed concerns about her movie’s performance in cinemas, and some fans wrongly accused Funke of sabotage. She also explained why Toyin did not appear in Return of Arinzo: “Toyin was supposed to be in it, but she said she was exhausted, and she also had to travel, so she pulled out last minute. I was upset because it cost me a lot to rewrite the story, but the show must go on… she apologized, we made up, and the rest is history.”
Despite the drama, Iyabo emphasized that she has done all she can and will no longer intervene. “Honestly, all this saddened me because the sky is big enough for all. I have tried my best, but at this point, I can’t beg anyone anymore. I honestly don’t want to get involved anymore. Please, you all should respect that… when both parties are ready, they will make peace. I love them both regardless.”
Return of Arinzo is scheduled to premiere in cinemas nationwide from April 3, 2026.
