Gospel singer Toluwanisings was finally laid to rest on Monday, November 9, 2026 in Ibadan, after almost a month of very public family wahala.
The burial:
• Lying-in-state: 9am – 10am
• Burial service: 10am – 11am
• Venue: Banjola Event and Conference Centre, No. 20 Hope Road, Alakia, Ibadan
His burial poster read: “Forever in our Hearts, always in our Lives”
After the service, his remains were taken to his own house in Ibadan – the house he built and lived in with his wife and children – for a final viewing, then he was buried there in a private ceremony.
Toluwanisings – real name Olayemi Bayonle Bolaji – died in the early hours of October 14, 2026, after reportedly slumping at home in Ibadan. He was 34, according to his father (not 44 as widely reported). No official cause of death has been publicly confirmed. UCH Ibadan said they had no record of him being brought in.
Munirus Adekunle Olayemi, his father wanted his son buried inside the house he built in Ibadan according to him his son built that house with his energy and savings, supported the family, and deserved to rest there.
If not that, his alternative was to take him to Ikirun, Osun State and bury him beside his late mother – who died when Toluwanisings was about 6 months old.
His uncle Lawal Rauf / Ademola backed him, and even threatened the family would exhume him if he was buried in a cemetery.
His grandmother has Sabitiyu Olayemi also insisted on home burial, but rejected the Ikirun option.
His widow Elizabeth Damilola / Akanbi Elizabeth Olayemi
Reported to have preferred a cemetery or church burial ground, saying she would not be comfortable living in a house where her husband was buried, especially with their two young daughters.
That disagreement turned ugly – paternal family demanded an investigation into his death and suspensions of burial, with accusations, threats and viral videos flying around. On Nov 2, close friend Lanre Alewilese announced the widow and father had reached an understanding to bury him at his house, and begged Nigerians to stop dragging Damilola: “Damilola is very young for what she’s currently going through… Let peace reign. Leave the wife alone.”
A day later on Nov 3 The Oyo State Police Command stepped in. CP Olugbenga Abimbola convened both sides at Eleyeles HQ. Widow, father, and associates Oyindamola Esther, Babadunni Gbolabo, Lawal Ademola Rafiu signed a peace undertaking to stop all public exchanges, interviews and social media posts about the dispute. Police warned anyone who breaks it would be arrested.
At the Night of Tributes on Oct 27 at Jogor Centre, Ibadan, while the dispute was still raging, Elizabeth broke down in tears trying to complete her tribute: “Toluwanisings, my dear husband. I will forever miss you. Please do not forget your children and I.”
She couldn’t finish – she was overwhelmed.
Friends say Toluwanisings always called her his “peace of mind.”
After videos of the father’s poor living condition in Ikirun went viral, Ikirun-born philanthropist Ibraheem Luqman offered housing for the father and scholarships for Toluwanisings’ two children.
So in the end, the father’s wish won – he was buried in the house he built, not in a cemetery, not beside his mother in Ikirun
