The planned final rites for late Nigerian gospel singer Olayemi Bayonle Bolaji, widely known as Toluwanisings, have hit a fresh snag following a formal demand by his paternal family to postpone his interment pending a full investigation into the cause of his death.
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The development comes even as a Night of Tributes and Service of Songs in honor of the 34-year-old musician proceeds as scheduled on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at the Jogor Centre in Ibadan.
Issuing a public statement on behalf of the family, the deceased’s uncle, Comrade Lawal Ademola Rauf, called on law enforcement authorities, government agencies, and religious bodies to initiate a thorough probe into the circumstances surrounding the artist’s sudden demise on October 14.
“We need the help of the government, Nigerians, and religious leaders in getting a thorough and honest investigation into Toluwani’s demise,” Rauf stated. “Nobody should try to bury Toluwani until the end of the investigation. That is the family’s decision”.
The demand for a probe adds to existing intra-family friction regarding the location of the singer’s final resting place. Reports indicate a sharp disagreement between the singer’s widow and his father, Muniru Adekunle Olayemi.
While his widow requested a burial in a public cemetery or church vault—citing discomfort with residing in a home where her husband is interred—his father insisted that the singer be laid to rest at his private residence or in his ancestral village beside his late mother.
Addressing the financial implications of delaying the rites, the family stated they are prepared to cover ongoing mortuary fees to ensure an unhindered investigation before any interment takes place. #
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