Entertainment
‘God Instructed Me Not To Cut My Dreadlocks’ — Jimmy Odukoya Reveals Spiritual Reason Behind His Hair
Controversial cleric Jimmy Odukoya has revealed that his decision to keep dreadlocks was based on a direct instruction from God — a move that, according to him, ultimately saved a life.
In a sermon shared on Facebook Wednesday, the lead pastor of The Fountain of Life Church explained that the hairstyle, which has drawn both criticism and support, is not a fashion statement but a spiritual mandate.
“Before I came back, one of the things I asked the Lord was whether or not I should cut my hair. And the Lord told me not to cut my hair,” Odukoya said. “I said, ‘Lord, you sure?’ He said, ‘Don’t cut it.’ I said, ‘Alright. I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but I’m crazy enough to follow you, let’s do it together.’”
READ ALSO: Sanwo-Olu Expresses Sympathy To Pastor Odukoya’s Family
He recounted how his sister and fellow pastor, Tolu Odukoya-Ijogun, initially questioned his appearance, urging him to consider how it might affect his outreach.
“She said, ‘This your hair… To clean a fish, you must first catch it,’” he recalled. “In other words, if you’re going to reach people and bring about change, you must first be relatable and accepted.”
Odukoya, however, insisted on following divine instruction. “Sis, I hear you, but go and pray. God will speak to you,” he told her.
According to him, she later returned with a revelation of her own. “She saw me preaching with my hair and came back to say, ‘You’re not supposed to cut it.’ And I said, ‘I know. He already told me.’”
The most striking part of his testimony came as he described a woman from Zimbabwe who traveled to Nigeria just to attend his service after recognizing him from a vision she had nine years ago.
“She said, ‘People think I’m crazy. I told everybody I am coming to Nigeria for the next three to four weeks. I’m just coming to church,’” Odukoya shared.
He explained that the woman had seen him in a 2016 vision while in New York during Thanksgiving. At the time, she said she was burdened by personal struggles and saw a man with long hair and a sword speaking words that released her from her pain.
“There was this dog on my shoulder. I knew the dog represented the weight I was carrying and you had this long sword. You began speaking to me and it looked like thunder and lightning was coming out of the sword and it burnt the dog into ashes,” she told him.
The woman said she had no knowledge of Odukoya at the time and assumed the man in the vision wasn’t real. Years later, in 2025, while battling depression after a divorce and the loss of her mother, she stumbled upon a sermon on YouTube — and recognized him instantly.
“She said, ‘I screamed. This is the man I saw. I didn’t know any pastor would have long hair. It’s him!’”
Odukoya noted that the timing of her vision in 2016 was particularly significant because he did not have dreadlocks then, highlighting how obeying God’s instruction played a role in what he believes was a divinely orchestrated moment.
“In 2016, I didn’t even have dreads. But the God who sees, hears, and knows, knew that in February 2025, one of His children would have to see a man preaching,” he said. “If He did not ask me to keep my hair, I would have cut it. And when I popped up on the screen, she would have seen me with no hair and it would have meant nothing.”
Odukoya, who succeeded his late father Pastor Taiwo Odukoya in 2023, has previously defended his appearance, stating that his mode of dressing is spiritually guided.
Nollywood actress and filmmaker, Ruth Kadiri, has debunked reports circulating on social media claiming that she died in an accident.
Kadiri addressed the viral rumour on Sunday in a video shared on her Instagram page, assuring fans that she is alive, safe and was not involved in any accident.
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The actress expressed sadness over the reports, particularly the number of social media accounts allegedly created to circulate the false claim.
Appealing to her followers, Kadiri urged them not to engage with the pages spreading the rumour but to report them.
She said, “Please note that I am alive. I did not have any accident, and I am safe.”
The actress further expressed concern over what she described as the disturbing lengths some people go to on social media to hurt others.
“I am alive!! Please help me report. Please, I’m begging you, help me report it!! Any page that carries such news,” she said.
Kadiri added that she was saddened by the false reports and appealed to those behind them to leave her alone.
The actress’ clarification comes amid the continued spread of fake death reports involving celebrities and other public figures across social media platforms.
Controversial social media commentator, Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has reacted to reports that Nollywood actress Regina Daniels has allegedly returned to the home of her husband, Senator Ned Nwoko, following their recent marital controversy.
Otse made his position known in a video shared on his Facebook page on Saturday, where he questioned the reported return and recalled the backlash he received from some Nigerians during the earlier controversy involving the actress and her husband.
SEE MORE: Ned Nwoko Allegedly Arrests Regina Daniels’ Best Friend
VDM said he wanted to see those who previously criticised him return to make posts about the latest development, recalling that he had been insulted and accused of hating women.
He also questioned claims that Regina Daniels returned because of her children.
“Some are saying she only went back because of her children. Didn’t she see the children when she left? Why didn’t she care so much about them then?”
The social media commentator further questioned whether Regina would have returned if Ned Nwoko were not a wealthy man.
“If Ned Nwoko Were A Poor Man, Would She Come Back?”
VDM also suggested that Regina may have returned after realising that life outside the marriage was not what she expected.
“She Saw That There Was Nothing Outside, That’s Why She Came Back.”
In another post accompanying his reaction, Otse wrote: “As seen on social media Regina Daniels is back home to SEN NED NWOKO… or rather PA NED according to emotional Nigerians then.”
However, the report of Regina Daniels’ return has not been independently confirmed by the actress or Ned Nwoko.
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Sean “Diddy” Combs could be released from prison earlier than previously expected after his projected release date was moved forward again.
According to the latest listing from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons, the 56-year-old music mogul is now projected to leave the Federal Correctional Institution in Fort Dix, New Jersey, on February 5, 2028.
The latest adjustment moves his projected release date forward by more than two weeks from the previously listed date of February 20, 2028.
READ ALSO: Jay-Z Accused Of Raping 13-Year-Old Girl In Civil Suit Linked To Diddy Case
Combs’ release date has reportedly been revised several times since he began serving his 50-month federal prison sentence in October 2025.
His initial projected release date was June 2028 before subsequent changes moved it forward to April, February and January. It was later adjusted to February 20, 2028, before the latest change to February 5.
The reason for the repeated changes remains unclear.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons has previously said it does not comment on individual inmates’ confinement conditions, release plans or the reasons behind changes to projected release dates, citing privacy, safety and security concerns.
Diddy’s Prison Sentence
Combs is serving his sentence after a federal jury found him guilty in 2025 on two counts of transporting individuals across state lines for prostitution.
However, he was acquitted of the more serious charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking.
A judge subsequently sentenced the rapper and entertainment executive to four years and two months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
Reported Altercation at Fort Dix
The latest release-date adjustment comes weeks after reports that Combs was involved in an altercation with another inmate at the New Jersey prison.
Reports cited by the Daily Mail alleged that Combs and the inmate initially pushed each other before punches were exchanged. Guards reportedly intervened, and Combs was subsequently placed in solitary confinement.
Prison officials have not publicly confirmed the details of the alleged incident.
Combs’ representatives have previously denied reports that he violated prison rules, maintaining that the Bad Boy Entertainment founder was focused on sobriety, self-discipline and personal growth while serving his sentence.
For now, the Bureau of Prisons lists February 5, 2028, as Combs’ projected release date.
However, the date could still change.
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