Toluwanisings' death: Family disputes, hospital claims, and legal threats unfold

The passing of gospel singer Olayemi Bolaji, known as Toluwanisings, has led to a lot of talk about hospital rejections, family disagreements about his burial, and legal threats against those connecting celebrities to his death.

Toluwanisings died in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, after reportedly collapsing. His personal assistant, Babadunni Gbolabo, claimed that attempts to get emergency medical help for him at different hospitals were not successful.

Since his passing, family members have called for an investigation into how he died. His father has also publicly discussed a disagreement with Toluwanisings' widow about where he should be buried.

In the meantime, gospel singer Tope Alabi and comedians Ayobami Ajewole, known as Woli Agba, and Olamide Oladimeji, also known as Dele Omo Woli, have threatened legal action over claims that connect them to the singer's death.

Claims of hospital rejections

Babadunni Gbolabo, the personal assistant, said Toluwanisings was taken to about seven or eight hospitals in Ibadan after he suddenly collapsed. He was not there when the singer fell but rushed over after getting 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 explained.

He said the singer was healthy before collapsing. People at the scene tried to revive him and then took 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 claims have sparked reactions from Nigerians, with some linking the trouble getting emergency care to the strike by resident doctors at the University College Hospital, Ibadan.

But UCH’s Public Relations Officer, Funmilayo Enitan, said the hospital had resumed services after the strike was suspended. 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 was taken to a mortuary and that the family would decide the next steps after talking among themselves.

Father disputes singer’s age

After the singer died, his father, Muniru Adekunle Olayemi, talked about his son's upbringing and disputed reports that said the gospel artist was 44 when he died. In an interview on October 25, Olayemi said his son was born in July 1992 and was 34 when he died.

"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.

Olayemi said the singer was given the Muslim name Sodiq Olayemi Bayonle before he later became a Christian. He explained that the singer’s mother passed away when he was about six months old. The family took her body from Kano to her hometown in Agba, Osun State, where her relatives wanted to raise the child.

Olayemi said his son grew up with his maternal relatives along with support from other family members. He mentioned that the singer went to Methodist Secondary School in Agba before moving to Yaba College of Technology in Lagos.

The father said Toluwanisings later moved to Lagos, where he met his wife through their church choir. He described the singer as supportive, saying he kept a close bond with his younger half-siblings and helped the family financially.

Olayemi said his son had promised to help one of his younger half-siblings a day before he died. "He has really tried for me as a father," he said.

Disagreement over burial plans

Another issue came up when the singer's father spoke about a disagreement with his daughter-in-law about where to bury his son. Olayemi wanted the singer buried in the house he built or beside his late mother in Osun State.

He said he contacted the singer's wife after hearing about his death to discuss the burial plans. He claimed she suggested burying the singer in a cemetery or church, while he preferred the house his son built.

The father said his daughter-in-law opposed this idea because she would not feel comfortable living in a house where her husband was buried. He then suggested taking the singer's body to Ikirun, Osun State, to be 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 side of the disagreement was not included in the reports, and the final burial place has not been publicly confirmed.

Call for investigation

The situation around the singer’s death got more serious when a man claiming to be his uncle, Lawal Ademola, called for a fair investigation. In an interview posted on Facebook on October 26, Ademola asked the government, community leaders, and law enforcement to look into how the death happened.

"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 uncle talked about going to the singer’s home and mentioned the disagreement over the burial. He said some relatives wanted the singer buried at the house he lived in with his wife and kids, while others wanted to take his remains to Ikirun.

The uncle also asked for the burial to be postponed until the investigation was done.

Tope Alabi's legal threats

Gospel singer Tope Alabi has threatened to take legal action against a pastor in Canada, identified in reports as Tayo Kumuyi, also known as Pastor Tayo Ministries, over claims linking her to Toluwanisings’ death and the deaths of other ministers. Alabi’s lawyers, Oakmount Legal Practitioners, sent a cease-and-desist letter on October 24, 2026, asking for the removal of the posts, a retraction, and an apology from the Facebook page operators.

The letter, titled “Cease and Desist: Malicious and Defamatory Publications and Threats Against Our Client,” demanded immediate action.

The legal document said posts made between October 20 and 24 accused Alabi of murder and ritual killing, including claims connecting her to the deaths of several gospel ministers. Rejecting the claims, 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 proof 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 lawyers also accused the page operator of taking advantage of public grief and argued that the allegations were hurting their client’s reputation.

They noted a post allegedly aimed at Alabi after she warned against defamation on October 23, which read, "Tope Alabi, no letter will save you from my hand. Your only option is leaving your hiding place."

They described this as a threat, 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." They demanded the posts be taken down and retracted within 24 hours. It is unclear if a lawsuit has been filed since then.

Legal threats from comedians

Comedians Ayobami Ajewole, known as Woli Agba, and Olamide Oladimeji, also known as Dele Omo Woli, have also threatened legal action against people spreading claims linking them to Toluwanisings’ death. Woli Agba shared this in a public notice on his Instagram page on October 25. The notice, from their lawyers, Gemgold Solicitors, warned the public against sharing what they called false and damaging allegations.

Dated October 23, the notice said the claims were meant to hurt their clients’ reputations and expose them to 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 came after online allegations linked several gospel personalities and entertainers to the singer’s death. The claims in the legal notices are still allegations that the individuals dispute. The supplied reports did not show that any of the named individuals were found responsible for the singer’s death.

Family to hold tribute night

Despite the controversy, Toluwanisings’ family has planned a tribute night to celebrate his life and legacy. The event, titled “A Night of Tributes: Honouring the Life and Legacy of Toluwanisings,” is set for Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at Hall of Grace, Jogor Centre, Ibadan, at 3 pm.

The announcement, shared on the singer’s verified Instagram, called for attendees to wear white. The family described the event as “a night of love, reflection, heartfelt tributes, cherished memories, and thanksgiving to God.”

They also shared thoughts on the singer’s impact, saying, “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 asked for financial help for the singer’s wife and two daughters left behind. The tribute night comes after a candlelight procession held in his honour, which moved many fans and colleagues in the gospel music community.

Summary of Toluwanisings’ death

Toluwanisings passed away in Ibadan on October 14, 2026, after reportedly collapsing. His personal assistant said he was taken to multiple hospitals seeking medical help, but the claims of rejection have not been independently confirmed. UCH stated it had no record showing that the singer was brought there. His father has disputed reports about his age and talked about disagreements over burial plans, while a man claiming to be his uncle has called for a proper investigation. Meanwhile, Tope Alabi, Woli Agba, and Dele Omo Woli have threatened legal action over allegations connecting them to the singer’s death.