Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The only sound that could be heard from the mangled wreckage along the Lagos‑Ibadan Expressway on Monday afternoon was the distant hum of traffic passing by. No sirens. No shouting. The man inside was already gone. By the time family and colleagues confirmed the news, a second silence had settled over the film community that knew him simply as Janmole – the comedian whose every appearance on screen was a promise of relief in a country too short on laughter.
Nollywood veteran actor, filmmaker and comedian Okiki Adesina, widely known as Janmole, has died following a ghastly motor accident that occurred on Monday, June 1, 2026. The Yoruba film industry was plunged into mourning on Tuesday when the President of the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN), Bolaji Amusan, popularly called Mr Latin, broke the news on his Instagram page. “May the soul of our departed colleague, Adesina Okiki Janmole, who tragically lost his life in an accident, rest in perfect peace,” Mr Latin wrote. “May God grant his family, friends, and colleagues the strength and comfort to bear this irreparable loss. He will be greatly missed. Amen.” The announcement came nearly four years after the actor had narrowly escaped a fire incident on the same expressway – an episode that many of his fans had come to regard as a sign that he was meant to stay.
The exact circumstances of the Monday crash have not been released by traffic authorities, but tributes flooding social media suggest that the accident occurred along the notoriously dangerous stretch of the Lagos‑Ibadan Expressway, a corridor that has claimed the lives of countless travellers and, over the years, several entertainment personalities. No official statement has been issued by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) as of Tuesday evening, and the family has not disclosed whether the actor was driving alone or with others. What is known is that Janmole had been actively working in the days before his death. Fellow actor Jomiloju Olunbe, in a tearful Instagram tribute, recalled their last encounter on a movie set. “Haaaaaaa Okiki Adesina Oshin,” Olunbe wrote. “Jomiloju, won’t I be in that video? I told him to join me now that the video is for him, he laughed and joined. I never knew it would be the last time on set with him. In this very video, he was saying, ‘Jomiloju, I no know say I fine pass you like this o’. What a life! R.I.P Okiki Adeshina Oshin.”
Janmole’s death has sent shockwaves through the Nigerian entertainment industry, where he was beloved not only for his comedic timing but also for his behind‑the‑camera work as a filmmaker. He rose to prominence in the Yoruba movie industry with roles that blended slapstick humour with genuine emotional depth. His credits include popular titles such as ‘Agunbaniro’, ‘Ìyàwó Asante’, and ‘Ọgbọ́n Inu’. In recent years, he had also embraced the digital space, creating content for TikTok where he amassed thousands of followers, bringing his comedic flair to a younger generation of Nigerians who had not grown up watching him on television.
The actor’s passing marks the third loss in Nollywood within a single week, a morbid coincidence that has left the film community reeling. While the names of the other two deceased have not been widely circulated in connection with this report, the cumulative grief has prompted industry leaders to call for renewed attention to road safety and the mental well‑being of practitioners who frequently travel long distances between locations. Colleagues have described Janmole as a generous mentor who often opened his set to younger actors and was always willing to share production tips with aspiring filmmakers. Film producer and TAMPAN chieftain, who spoke to this reporter on condition of anonymity, said: “Janmole was the type of person who would drive two hours just to deliver a prop to a colleague who was in a tight spot. He never saw a joke in a script without trying to make it twice as funny. That is the man we have lost.”
The actor’s journey in the entertainment industry was marked by resilience. Nearly four years earlier, he had survived a serious accident on the Lagos‑Ibadan Expressway, an incident that drew widespread concern and relief after he recovered. Friends remember that he often joked about the episode, telling interviewers that “death looked at me and decided I was still needed.” For many, that earlier narrow escape made the news of his Monday death even more painful to process. “He escaped death once, and we all breathed a sigh of relief. Now we are hearing that the second chance was only four years long,” a fan wrote on X.
Governor Babajide Sanwo‑Olu of Lagos State has not yet issued a statement, but condolence messages have poured in from several Nollywood figures, including Femi Adebayo, Odunlade Adekola, and Mercy Aigbe. On social media, fans have shared clips of Janmole’s funniest scenes, turning his death into a bittersweet celebration of a career that was cut short too soon. One recurring theme in the tributes is the actor’s signature laugh – a high‑pitched, infectious cackle that could transform even a badly written punchline into genuine comedy gold.
Janmole is survived by his wife and children. Details of funeral arrangements have not yet been released, but TAMPAN has indicated that it will work closely with the family to ensure a dignified burial befitting his contributions to the arts. Meanwhile, the actor’s final project – a comedy film he was editing at the time of his death – remains unfinished. Colleagues have vowed to complete it as a posthumous tribute, with all proceeds to be directed to his family.
The loss of Okiki Adesina ‘Janmole’ is a reminder that the road that carries actors to their audiences can sometimes carry them away from us entirely. As one fan wrote simply on Instagram: “The laughter will never sound the same again.”
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