Toluwanisings’ burial dispute deepens as uncle calls for death probe

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that the “Kabiyesi Olorun Ayo” crooner died after he slumped at his residence in Ibadan, Oyo State on 15 October.

The family of late Nigerian gospel singer Olayemi “Toluwanisings” Bolaji has insisted that his burial must wait until the authorities determine what caused his death.

Since then, the family has faced controversy over his burial arrangements, including whether to bury him in a cemetery, at his residence, or in his hometown.

The singer’s uncle, Lawal “Up Lawal” Ademola, made the family’s position clear during an interview with Dunmininu Kingdom, posted on TikTok on Monday.

Speaking on behalf of the family, he called for a transparent and impartial investigation into the death and warned against any attempt to compromise the investigation.

Up Lawal, a health worker, urged the government, community leaders, and security agencies to prevent interference in the investigation.

The younger brother of the singer’s father said: “The family has decided that Sodiq must not be buried on Wednesday. We have informed the musicians, who have since suspended all arrangements for his burial. The family thanks God, as we believe that He is the giver and taker of life. Since Sodiq’s death, we have accepted it as God’s will. However, the family now needs the support of Nigerians and the government because his death has deeply pained and baffled us.

“We are calling on the government, Christians, Muslims, and traditionalists to help us investigate the cause of Sodiq’s death. The whole world knows that Sodiq is dead, but to establish the facts and avoid future controversy, we, the Olayemi family, need to know the cause of his death. We are appealing to everyone to help us get answers.”

Furthermore, Up Lawal said the family had directed that all burial plans for Toluwanisings be suspended, adding that they had already informed their relatives in Ibadan.

He insisted that the family would continue to foot the mortuary bills until investigators completed their work and uncovered the cause of Toluwanisings’ death.

“The government should ensure that the law takes its course and empower the relevant authorities to investigate Sodiq’s death. We do not want to take the law into our own hands. The family is deeply saddened by his death. For this reason, nobody should make further burial arrangements for Sodiq, as we are still grieving and want to know the truth.

“The family has resolved that he must not be buried until the cause of his death is established. We will continue to pay the mortuary fees until the investigation is concluded. Once the cause of his death is established, we will bury him at his house in Ibadan, where his wife currently lives. That is the family’s decision,” said Up Lawal.

He also alleged foul play in the singer’s death, claiming that his wife, workers, and others showed no sign of mourning when he visited Toluwanisings’ house with seven family members

“I represented the head of the family. 7 of us travelled from Ikirun to Ibadan, we got there at about 9:30am, and we met the wife’s mother, the wife’s sisters, PA, and Tolu’s aunt. I was devastated when I saw them watching TV and eating. They put food inside takeaway packs. I had to ask the wife if Tolu was truly Tolu dead because there was no sign of mourning. I told the PA to take me to the morgue so I could see Tolu’s body.

“He refused. I had to call the other family members, and they said I should arrest the PA. That was when he agreed to take us there. I then checked his body. I challenged my wife that there was a day Tolu’s daddy called her, that even if Tolu is not checking on me, you should be checking on m,e, but Tolu quickly took the phone from his wife and said, ‘don’t destroy our home,’ but she denied.”

He said he told Toluwanising’s widow, Elizabeth, that the family wanted to bury the late singer in his own house, but she rejected the idea.

“She said she couldn’t bear to see his grave. I then suggested Ikirun, but she complained that it was too far. I told her she had to choose one.

“Paternal grandmother insists Toluwanising must be buried in his house.”

Meanwhile, Toluwanising’s paternal grandmother, Sabitiyu Olayemi, insisted that the late singer should be buried in the house he built rather than beside his late mother’s grave.

She also accused the singer of neglecting her despite her family’s efforts to care for his mother.

She further claimed that Toluwanising hardly gave her money, alleging that he sent her just N10,000 on three occasions after she complained about his failure to visit her.

“It is my wish for him to be buried inside the house he built; they should not come and put him beside his mother’s grave at all. I will not allow it. We took care of his mother very well, like our own, but Toluwanisings doesn’t call me then, and even when I want to call people, they advise me not to. I didn’t even know he had built a house. I just recently learned that he is a popular Christian singer.

“He never gives me money at all, not even one kobo. It’s even one girl around one time ago that I gave his number to help me call him so that I can even hear his voice and he will just greet me and all. Even when I complain he doesn’t come to see me, he will be like ‘oh mummy, I have been very busy with work,’ and after that he only sent 10 thousand just like three times, and that was it,” the grandmother said.

Meanwhile, as the family continues to demand an investigation into his death, a flyer shared on Toluwanisings’ Instagram page on Tuesday announced a night of tributes in his honour at the Hall of Grace, Jogor Centre, Ibadan.

The event will begin at 3 p.m., with attendees expected to dress in all white.