The 83-year-old Juju legend released a video on Tuesday morning, countering the false reports with his trademark vitality. Clad in his signature agbada, Obey-Fabiyi sang a lively medley that blended Yoruba, English, and Pidgin, defiantly addressing the rumours:
“Satan, you don lose o, Satan, you don lose o, you don pafuka. Na lie lie you dey talk, you don pafuka.”
In the clip, he directly addressed fans and the public:
“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 rumour, which surfaced late Monday, quickly sparked confusion and premature tributes on social media. However, Obey-Fabiyi’s personal assistant, Tope Olukole, swiftly moved to quash the falsehoods in an interview with TVC.
“Let’s set the record straight: Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi is alive and thriving,” Olukole affirmed. “He recently celebrated a joyous occasion — the 50th birthday of his second child’s spouse. Rumours of his passing are baseless and entirely unfounded.”
The death hoax follows closely on the heels of Obey-Fabiyi’s 83rd birthday celebration, which was marked with fanfare by admirers across Nigeria and beyond.
Often referred to as one of the founding fathers of modern Nigerian music, Obey-Fabiyi’s reassuring presence—and musical retort to fake news—has been met with relief and applause from fans who grew up on his timeless melodies and messages of faith.
His response is not just a dismissal of misinformation—it is a reminder that the icon remains a vibrant voice in the cultural and spiritual fabric of Nigeria.