Family of Late Singer Toluwanisings Demands Probe, Requests Burial Postponement

The planned burial of gospel singer Olayemi Bolaji, popularly known as Toluwanisings, has come under fresh uncertainty following a demand by members of his father’s family for an investigation into his death.

The family has opposed the proposed Wednesday interment, insisting that the circumstances surrounding the singer’s death must be investigated before he is laid to rest.

The development emerged as a memorial service for the late gospel minister was scheduled to hold on Tuesday in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Toluwanisings died on October 14, leaving fans and members of the gospel music community mourning the loss of the rising singer whose ministrations had attracted considerable attention.

Since his death, members of his family have reportedly disagreed over the appropriate location for his burial.

His widow had indicated that she preferred a cemetery or church-owned burial ground, explaining that she would not be comfortable living in a house where her husband was buried.

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However, the singer’s father had previously expressed a different preference, saying he wanted his son buried at their family home or in their village, where the singer’s mother was buried.

The dispute has now escalated following a statement by Lawal Rauf, an uncle of the deceased, who said the father’s family had collectively rejected the planned burial date.

“We don’t want him to be buried on Wednesday as they planned to. Everyone from his father’s family has agreed to this. We want people to help us in doing investigations into his death,” Rauf stated.

The family further insisted that whenever the burial takes place, the singer should be interred at his home in Ibadan, where his wife currently lives.

Rauf also appealed to government officials, Nigerians and religious leaders to support a transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the singer’s death.

The controversy has shifted attention from mourning arrangements to questions about the investigation and the competing wishes of the deceased’s relatives.

No final resolution to the burial disagreement was provided in the available report.