Mrs. Olatunde Funke, the 42-year-old woman whose disappearance recently threw Ondo State into a panic, has finally opened up about being found in a hotel room.
In a move that has sparked fresh debate, she declared that she owes no apology to the public or her critics, insisting that her only duty was to apologize to the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) Worldwide.
The mother of three, who was reported missing from Ilara-Mokin only to be tracked by police to a hotel in the Ikare-Akoko area, has dismissed viral reports that she was there for an illicit affair with a 55-year-old man.
“My Period Stained Me”—The Hotel Explanation
Addressing the "missing person" scare that went viral, Funke explained that her stay in the hotel was an emergency and not a premeditated "runaway" from her matrimonial home.
According to her, she found herself in a town she had never visited before and was forced to seek shelter when her clothes became stained due to her menstrual cycle.
She claimed a commercial motorcyclist (Okada man) directed her to the hotel so she could clean up.
"I was inside that room throughout that day. I didn’t go out... I only asked for water," she stated, adding that she remained indoors because she was embarrassed and "not in her right frame of mind."
The Mystery of the "Old Man"
Clarifying the involvement of the 55-year-old man who was arrested by the police, Funke denied that he was her lover. She explained that she contacted him for help because she had his number through a former tenant.
She claimed she only sent the man to buy basic necessities for her, including sanitary pads and slippers, because she could not go out in her stained condition. "I gave him money and he brought what I asked for... that was the last time I saw him," she said.
"I Switched Off My Phone"
Funke admitted that her biggest mistake was switching off her mobile phone, which caused her family and the public to believe she had been kidnapped or killed. This led security operatives to track her location through the man she had contacted for help.
Recounting the moment the police arrived, she said, "The police just came and said, ‘Madam, you’re under arrest.’ I told them he didn’t kidnap me, but they didn’t listen."
Apology Only to the Church
Despite the public outcry and the resources spent on her search, Funke remains firm that she has done nothing wrong against the public.
However, she expressed deep regret over how the scandal has affected the image of her church.
"I had to apologize to the Celestial Church of Christ worldwide… my name has been tarnished," she said. She then added pointedly: "I owe them an apology... I do not owe any other person an apology."
While Funke described the entire ordeal as a "personal trial," many observers continued to question the circumstances that led to her spending days in a hotel without communicating with her husband or family.
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