Veteran Nigerian music legend, Evangelist Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi, has firmly debunked viral rumours of his death, assuring fans and the public that he is alive, healthy, and full of life.
The 83-year-old Juju music icon made the declaration in a spirited video shared early Tuesday, in which he appeared lively and energetic, even breaking into song to mock the hoax. Blending Yoruba, English, and Pidgin, Obey sang:
“Hello, my name is Professor Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi.
Satan, you don lose o, Satan, you don lose o, you don pafuka.
Na lie lie you dey talk, you don pafuka.”
In a follow-up message, the revered evangelist addressed the false reports directly:
“It is fake news that started a few hours ago claiming that I, Evangelist Obey, have passed on to glory. It is a lie. I am alive, and that is not the word Jesus has written.”
The rumours, which began circulating on Monday, quickly spread across social media and triggered premature tributes from fans and admirers. However, his personal assistant, Tope Olukole, swiftly set the record straight in an interview with TVC, emphasizing that the iconic musician is “alive and thriving.”
“Let’s set the record straight: Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi is alive and well. He even recently joined his family to celebrate the 50th birthday of his second child’s spouse,” Olukole said. “The rumour is completely false and baseless. We are glad to see him active and in good health.”
The false death report surfaced just weeks after Obey marked his 83rd birthday — a milestone that underscored his legacy as one of Nigeria’s most influential cultural figures.
Fans, friends, and fellow musicians have since taken to social media to celebrate the reassurance of his good health, with many calling for stricter consequences for the spread of misinformation online.
