Toluwanisings: Oyo Police Settle Burial Controversy Involving Family, Wife

The Oyo State Police Command has successfully mediated the dispute surrounding the burial plans of the late gospel singer, Olayemi Bayonle Bolaji, widely known as Toluwanisings.

The Nigerian Voice recalls that following the singer's passing on October 14, a disagreement erupted between his widow, Mrs. Olayemi Elizabeth Damilola, and his family, specifically his father, Mr. Muniru Olayemi, over the final resting place. The widow was reportedly opposed to laying him to rest in their matrimonial home, while his father vehemently rejected the idea of a cemetery burial.

A statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, disclosed that the command received a report on October 28, 2026, concerning the disagreement, alongside allegations of conspiracy, defamation, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.

Acting on his statutory mandate under Section 4 of the Police Act, the Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, ordered that all involved parties be summoned to the Command Headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan, to prevent the situation from escalating.

The engagement, which concluded on November 3, resulted in all parties signing a peace undertaking before the Commissioner. Those who signed included the deceased's wife, his father, friends and associates such as Oyindamola Esther, Babadunni Gbolabo, and Comrade Lawal Ademola Rafiu, as well as the singer's personal assistant and other representatives.

The agreement mandates that all parties maintain peace, avoid any actions that could disrupt public order, and halt public exchanges, interviews, or discussions that could inflame tensions. The parties also committed to ceasing the dissemination of narratives, allegations, and publications regarding the matter across social media, print, radio, and blogs, whether directly or through proxies and associates.

The Commissioner of Police cautioned that the agreement must be respected and extended to all associates. He warned against anyone using the circumstances of the singer's passing to instigate hostility or spread unsubstantiated allegations, emphasizing that anyone committing an offence would face arrest and prosecution.

The command urged the public, bloggers, and media practitioners to exercise restraint and avoid amplifying unverified information that could reignite tensions, stressing that any criminal conduct will be addressed according to the law.