Nigerian gospel singer Olayemi Bayonle Bolaji, popularly known as Toluwanisings, has finally been laid to rest in Ibadan, Oyo State, following weeks of controversy involving his widow, father and other members of his paternal family over where his remains should be buried.
Key Highlights
- Toluwanisings buried on Monday, November 9, 2026, at his residence in Ibadan.
- Burial followed a peace agreement signed on November 3 at the Oyo Police Command headquarters, Eleyele.
- His widow, father and uncle had disagreed over a cemetery, family compound or Ikirun burial.
- Parties signed an undertaking to stop public comments and accusations on the dispute.
- Questions from his paternal family over the circumstances of his death remain a separate matter.
The singer was buried on Monday, November 9, 2026, at his residence in Ibadan, where his wife and children live, bringing an end to a disagreement that generated heated exchanges on social media and eventually attracted the intervention of the Oyo State Police Command.
The burial followed a peace agreement signed by the parties on Tuesday, November 3, at the police command headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan.
How The Burial Dispute Unfolded
The disagreement involved his widow, Olayemi Elizabeth Damilola, and his father, Muniru Olayemi, who reportedly held different positions on where the late singer should be laid to rest.
While his widow reportedly preferred a cemetery burial, his father and other paternal relatives wanted him buried at the family compound or the house he built in Ibadan.
The singer’s uncle, Lawal Rauf, had also insisted that his remains should be taken to Ikirun, Osun State, for burial beside his late mother.
The disagreement became increasingly contentious, with members of the family reportedly calling for the suspension of the burial pending an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
At the height of the dispute, allegations of conspiracy, defamation and threats of possible confrontation surfaced, turning what should have been a private family matter into a public controversy.
The situation eventually prompted police intervention after exchanges between the parties generated tension across social media and other public platforms.
The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, reportedly convened a meeting involving the widow, the deceased’s father, relatives, friends and associates at the command headquarters.
Following the meeting, the parties signed an undertaking to stop granting interviews, making public comments and circulating accusations relating to the disagreement through social media accounts, relatives or representatives.
The police said the intervention was necessary to prevent further confrontation and maintain public peace, warning that anyone whose conduct amounted to a criminal offence would be arrested and prosecuted.
With the disagreement resolved, the family settled on burying the singer at his Ibadan residence.
A funeral programme shared on his verified Instagram page announced that the lying-in-state would hold between 9am and 10am, followed by the burial service from 10am to 11am at Banjola Event and Conference Centre, No. 20, Hope Road, Alakia, Ibadan.
The announcement featured his portrait with the emotional inscription, “Forever in our hearts, always in our lives.” However, the burial controversy was not the only issue surrounding the singer’s death.
Questions Over His Death
Toluwanisings died in the early hours of Wednesday, October 14, 2026, after reportedly collapsing at his residence in Ibadan.
His sudden death sparked concerns among some members of his paternal family, who questioned the circumstances surrounding his demise and called for an investigation.
His personal assistant, Babadunni Gbolabo, had also alleged that efforts to obtain emergency medical attention for the singer at different hospitals were unsuccessful.
The family subsequently demanded answers, while allegations and counter-allegations involving people close to the late gospel minister circulated online.
Comedians Ayobami Ajewole, popularly known as Woli Agba, and Olamide Oladimeji, also known as Dele Omo Woli, had earlier threatened legal action against social media users and platforms circulating allegations linking them to the singer’s death.
They reportedly demanded the removal of defamatory publications, distancing themselves from allegations surrounding the circumstances of his demise.
Read also:
- Toluwanisings’ Burial Dispute: Oyo Police Summon Wife, Father, Friends as Parties Sign Peace Pact
- Family Resolves Dispute Over Toluwanisings Burial Controversy
- 8 Nigerian Gospel Singers Who Died in 2026: Omije Ojumi, Nutty Josh, Toluwanisings
The controversy also attracted reactions from other public figures, including comedian and preacher Woli Arole, who urged those involved to stop turning the singer’s death into a social media spectacle and prioritise the welfare of his widow and two daughters.
Meanwhile, the singer’s grandmother had also made headlines after alleging that he sent her only ₦10,000 on three occasions throughout five years, while expressing her preference for his burial at his house rather than in a cemetery.
Despite the resolution of the burial disagreement, questions raised by members of his paternal family about the circumstances surrounding his death remain a separate matter.
Toluwanisings was known for his spontaneous worship ministrations and gospel music, particularly his popular song, Kabiyesi Olorun Ayo.
His Audiomack profile reportedly recorded more than 45.6 million plays and over 513,000 followers, reflecting his growing popularity among gospel music listeners.
His death has left behind his widow, two daughters, relatives, colleagues and fans, while the bitter disagreement over his final resting place has exposed the tensions that can arise between surviving spouses and extended families over burial decisions.
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