The Nigerian entertainment industry has been shocked by new allegations from actress Esther Nwachukwu about the late actor Junior Odonwodo, often known as Junior Pope.
Nwachukwu has made contentious claims about Pope’s marital life and condemned his widow’s actions since his death on April 10, 2024.
In an open interview with Saturday Beats, Nwachukwu claimed to have dated Pope in the past and that he had confided in her about marital issues.
She stated, “When Junior Pope was alive, the wife never gave him peace. She disturbed him a lot.” Nwachukwu even mentioned having Pope’s name tattooed on her body as evidence of their past relationship.
The actress also suggested that Pope’s social media presence didn’t reflect his private struggles. “He would be going through a lot, but would still come on social media to post (pictures and videos of) his family,” she said, noting a change in his posting habits from December 2023.
Nwachukwu’s criticism extended to Pope’s widow’s behavior after his death. She argued that the widow should have observed a longer mourning period, suggesting that societal norms would expect six months to a year of mourning. “A grieving wife wouldn’t have come out barely two months after the death of her husband,” Nwachukwu stated, questioning the sincerity of the widow’s public appearances.
