Following the recent separation of Nollywood actress, Bukola Awoyemi aka Bukola Arugba from her partner, Damola Olatunji, her partner and father of her twins, many wondered why they weren’t married despite spending several years together.
Kemi Filani recalls that Bukola Arugba ‘snatched’ Damola Olatunji, also a Nollywood actor, from his legally married wife, Raliat Abiodun-Olatunji.
Bukola Arugba never confessed that she had caused a woman, Raliat Abiodun Olatunji, much anguish. She had not only torn Raliat’s marriage apart, but she had also taken over Raliat’s husband, Damola.
On Saturday, April 8, 2013, Damola Olatunji was married to Raliat at the Ikoyi registry and then, the couple also had a customary wedding.
But the marriage crumbled before its first anniversary in 2014 amidst allegations of infidelity from Raliat, Damola’s legal wife who was based in the United Kingdom.
Raliat Abiodun Sobowale fondly called Rally by her friends, exposed the love affair between Damola Olatunji and actress Bukky Awoyemi aka Arugba.
Then, Bukola Arugba and Damola Olatunji were in the news in 2014. Rumours had it then that they were lovers while Damola was still married to Raliat, who had gone back to the United Kingdom where she stayed, after their wedding to help secure documents for her husband to get a UK Visa. When she got wind of the affair between her husband and the actress, she didn’t believe it.
But she made an uninformed trip back to their Lagos home in Ajao Estate, and discovered her home had been torn apart by Bukola Arugba. A distraught Raliat did not meet her husband at home, attempted putting a call across to him on phone but the line was switched off.
After waiting endlessly for many days without seeing her husband, she inquired from neighbours and was told Bukola Arugba had taken over her husband and was even pregnant for him.
Though Damola denied this and discarded it as rumours to his legal wife, the marriage with Raliat hit the rock.
Bukola Arugba was to have her set of twins (a boy and a girl) on January 3, 2015.
Meanwhile, Bukola’s late mum, who was a staunch Christian, insisted on having a low-key introduction ceremony to gradually formalize their union.
Till date, Damola’s first wife has not conceded to a divorce and Kemi Ashefon gathered that she (Raliat) has moved on and dating a rich Nigerian who owns a record label in Lagos.
The couple—Bukola and Damola— remained unmarried but are live-in-lovers even years after their betraying Raliat.
But Bukola, on Tuesday May 30, 2023 issued a statement of notification that their partnership is over.
The statement issued by her lawyer confirmed that she was never married to Damola.
The statement of notification reads:
“We are solicitors to Ms. Bukola Awoyemi, also known as Arugba, hereinafter referred to as our client and on whose instruction we give this Notice.
“Please take NOTE that our client, Bukola Awoyemi and Mr. Damola Olatunji are no longer an item.
“They have gone their separate ways and this is without any hard feelings or ill will. They have never been married to each other but are blessed with two lovely children (twins).
“They have both agreed to jointly ensure that the wellbeing and welfare of their two children is guaranteed.”
