The death of gospel singer Olayemi Bolaji, popularly known as Toluwanisings, has triggered controversy over alleged hospital rejections, disagreements within his family over his burial arrangements and threats of legal action against people linking celebrities to his death.
The singer died in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, after reportedly slumping. His personal assistant, Babadunni Gbolabo, alleged that efforts to obtain emergency medical treatment for him at several hospitals were unsuccessful.
Since his death, members of his family have called for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding it, while his father has spoken publicly about a disagreement with the singer’s widow over where he should be buried.
Meanwhile, gospel singer Tope Alabi and comedians Ayobami Ajewole, popularly known as Woli Agba, and Olamide Oladimeji, also known as Dele Omo Woli, have threatened legal action over allegations linking them to the singer’s death.
Here is a breakdown of the major developments surrounding the singer’s death.
Alleged rejection at hospitals
Toluwanisings’ personal assistant, Babadunni Gbolabo, said the singer was taken to about seven or eight hospitals in Ibadan after he suddenly slumped.
Speaking about the incident, Babadunni said he was not present when the singer collapsed but rushed to the scene after receiving a call.
“I am Babadunni Gbolabo. I am the PA to ToluwaniSings. When it happened in the morning, I wasn’t here, so they called me and I came,” he said.
He said the singer had appeared healthy before the incident and that people at the scene attempted to revive him before taking him to hospitals.
“There was nothing wrong with him. He was very fine and in perfect condition. He just slumped. They tried to resuscitate him. They went helter-skelter. They took him to some hospitals, but they were giving excuses.
“Some said doctors were not working because of the strike. Some did not admit him at all. That is how it went. We tried our best, including prayers. We took him to up to seven to eight hospitals in Ibadan, but God said his time was up,” Babadunni said.
The allegations sparked reactions from Nigerians, with some linking the reported difficulties in accessing emergency care to industrial action by resident doctors at the University College Hospital, Ibadan.
However, UCH’s Public Relations Officer, Funmilayo Enitan, said the hospital had resumed services following the suspension of its resident doctors’ strike.
She said, “The hospital is running its services. The strike was a local one within the hospital; it was not a national strike. I was not aware that he was brought to UCH. I was not officially informed that he was brought to UCH. There was no record of it with the management.”
Babadunni also said the singer’s body had been taken to a mortuary and that the family would determine the next steps after consultations.
Father disputes singer’s reported age
Following the singer’s death, his father, Muniru Adekunle Olayemi, spoke about his son’s upbringing and disputed reports that the gospel minister was 44 when he died.
In a now-trending interview on October 25, Olayemi said his son was born in July 1992 and was 34 at the time of his death.
“My son is 34 years, not 44. People are just making different assumptions. I, the father, know when I gave birth to him,” he said.
The father said the singer was initially given the Muslim name Sodiq Olayemi Bayonle before later embracing Christianity.
He explained that the singer’s mother died when he was about six months old. According to him, the family took her remains from Kano to her hometown in Agba, Osun State, after which her relatives asked to raise the child.
Olayemi said his son subsequently grew up with his maternal relatives, with support from other members of the family.
He recalled that the singer attended Methodist Secondary School in Agba before proceeding to Yaba College of Technology in Lagos.
The father said Toluwanisings later moved to Lagos, where he met the woman who became his wife through their involvement in a church choir.
He described the singer as supportive, saying he maintained a close relationship with his younger half-siblings and provided financial assistance to the family.
Olayemi said his son had promised to help establish one of his younger half-siblings a day before his death.
“He has really tried for me as a father,” he said.
Family disagreement over burial arrangements
Another controversy emerged after the singer’s father spoke about a disagreement with his daughter-in-law over where his son should be buried.
Olayemi said he wanted the singer buried in the house he had built or beside his late mother in Osun State.
According to him, he contacted the singer’s wife after learning of his death to discuss the burial arrangements.
He claimed that she proposed burying the singer in a cemetery or church, while he preferred a burial at the house his son had built.
The father said his daughter-in-law opposed the idea because she would not be comfortable living in a house where her husband was buried.
He subsequently proposed that the singer’s remains be taken to Ikirun, Osun State, and buried beside his mother.
“If they won’t allow him to be buried inside his house, they should bring him down to the village where his mother is and bury him beside her,” he said.
The wife’s account of the disagreement was not included in the reports reviewed, and the final burial location had not been publicly confirmed in those reports.
Uncle demands impartial investigation
The controversy surrounding the singer’s death intensified after a man who identified himself as his uncle, Lawal Ademola, called for an impartial investigation.
In an interview with Dunmininu Kingdom, posted on Facebook on October 26, Ademola appealed to the government, community leaders and law enforcement authorities to ensure that the circumstances surrounding the death were properly investigated.
“Please help us, our elders, as we seek a proper investigation into the death of Sodiq. You who are the government, our leaders, and the law, please enforce the law and empower the investigation so that there won’t be biased judgments or victimisation.
“Nobody should interfere or try to cover things up regarding Sodiq, because this has deeply affected us,” he said.
In another video, the man recounted a visit to the singer’s home and spoke about the disagreement over his burial.
He said some relatives wanted the singer buried at the house where he had lived with his wife and children, while others proposed taking his remains to Ikirun.
The uncle also called for the burial to be delayed until the investigation was completed.
Tope Alabi threatens legal action over link to death
Gospel singer Tope Alabi has threatened legal action against a Canada-based pastor identified in reports as Tayo Kumuyi, also known as Pastor Tayo Ministries, over allegations linking her to Toluwanisings’ death and the deaths of other ministers.
Alabi’s solicitors, Oakmount Legal Practitioners, issued a cease-and-desist letter dated October 24, 2026, demanding the removal of the publications, a retraction and an apology from the operators of the Facebook page.
The letter, titled “Cease and Desist: Malicious and Defamatory Publications and Threats Against Our Client”, described itself as a “final demand for immediate removal, retraction and apology within twenty-four (24) hours”.
According to the legal document, posts published between October 20 and 24 allegedly accused Alabi of involvement in murder and ritual killing, including claims linking her to the deaths of several gospel ministers.
Rejecting the allegations, the lawyers wrote, “These statements accuse our client of murder and of ritual killing. There is no more serious allegation that can be made against a person, least of all a minister of the gospel. They are false in every particular.”
They challenged the publisher to provide evidence for the claims, stating, “You have produced no evidence, because none exists. No investigation, police finding or court decision supports a word of them.”
The letter added that Alabi “privately and publicly mourned the late Toluwanisings, and had no part in his death or in the death of anyone else”.
The solicitors also accused the page operator of exploiting public grief and argued that the allegations were damaging their client’s reputation.
They cited a subsequent post allegedly directed at Alabi after she issued a public notice warning against defamation on October 23.
Quoting the post, the solicitors wrote, “Tope Alabi, no letter will save you from my hand. Your only option is leaving your hiding place.”
They described the statement as threatening, saying, “That is not a response to a legal notice. It is a threat of harm, and an open declaration that you will continue.”
On the legal implications, the letter stated, “The publications complained of are, in our client’s view, actionable in libel under the applicable law.”
The solicitors demanded that the publications be removed and retracted and that an apology be issued within 24 hours. The supplied reports did not establish whether a lawsuit had subsequently been filed.
Woli Agba, Dele also threaten legal action
Comedians Ayobami Ajewole, popularly known as Woli Agba, and Olamide Oladimeji, also known as Dele Omo Woli, have also threatened legal action against people circulating allegations linking them to Toluwanisings’ death.
Woli Agba disclosed the move in a public notice shared on his Instagram page on October 25. The notice, issued by their solicitors, Gemgold Solicitors, warned members of the public against publishing or sharing what they described as false and defamatory allegations against the entertainers.
Dated October 23, the notice said the allegations were intended to damage their clients’ reputations and expose them to public ridicule.
“Our Clients’ attention has been drawn to certain defamatory publications and online broadcasts containing false, baseless, and malicious allegations against them. These publications appear calculated to tarnish our Clients’ hard-earned reputations, expose them to public ridicule, and incite hostility against them.
“We state categorically that these allegations, particularly those falsely associating our Clients with the demise of Toluwanisings, are entirely false, unsubstantiated, and unfounded,” the notice partly read.
The legal threats followed the circulation of online allegations linking several gospel personalities and entertainers to the singer’s death.
The claims contained in the legal notices remain allegations disputed by the individuals concerned. The supplied reports did not establish that any of the named individuals had been found responsible for the singer’s death.
Family announces tribute night
Amid the controversy, Toluwanisings’ family announced a tribute night to celebrate his life and legacy.
The event, titled “A Night of Tributes: Honouring the Life and Legacy of Toluwanisings”, was scheduled for Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at Hall of Grace, Jogor Centre, Ibadan, at 3 pm.
The announcement, shared through the singer’s verified Instagram account, invited attendees to dress in white.
The family described the occasion as “a night of love, reflection, heartfelt tributes, cherished memories, and thanksgiving to God”.
The announcement also reflected on the singer’s influence, stating, “Some lives leave footprints that time can never erase. Some voices may fall silent, but their songs, impact, and memories will forever echo in our hearts.”
The family also appealed for financial support for the singer’s wife and two daughters, whom he left behind.
The tribute night followed a candlelight procession held in his honour, which drew emotional reactions from fans and colleagues in the gospel music community.
What is known about the singer’s death?
Toluwanisings died in Ibadan on October 14, 2026, after reportedly slumping. His personal assistant said he was taken to several hospitals in an attempt to obtain medical attention, but the allegations of rejection have not been independently established in the supplied reports.
UCH said it had no record confirming that the singer was brought to the hospital.
His father has disputed reports about his age and spoken publicly about a disagreement over his burial, while a man identifying himself as his uncle has called for an impartial investigation.
Meanwhile, Tope Alabi, Woli Agba and Dele Omo Woli have threatened legal action over allegations linking them to the singer’s death.