Toluwanisings burial underway in Ibadan

Nigerian gospel singer Olayemi “Toluwanisings” Bolaji (Credit_Instagram@Toluwanisings)

Family members, friends and colleagues have gathered in Ibadan, Oyo State, to bid Nigerian singer Olayemi “Toluwanisings” Bolaji a final farewell as his burial ceremony gets underway.

A funeral flyer posted on the singer’s social media page on Monday outlined the activities for his final rites.

The programme shows that the family will hold his lying-in-state between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. today at Banjola Event and Conference Centre, No. 20 Hope Road, Alakia, Ibadan.

The burial service will follow immediately, running from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., before the family commits his remains to the earth.

However, the flyer does not disclose the specific location where the singer will be buried.

“Forever in our hearts always in our lives. Order of funeral arrangements. Monday, 9th November, 2026. Lying-in-state: 9:00AM – 10:00AM Burial service: 10:00AM – 11:00AM.

“Venue: Banjola event and conference center, No. 20 Hope road, Alakia, Ibadan. Hope Road is the road before the airport junction in Ibadan”, the flyer contents read.

The announcement of the singer’s burial followed the intervention of the Oyo State Police Command in a dispute over his final resting place involving his family, wife and associates.

The disagreement began after the singer’s family rejected plans by his wife, Elizabeth, and associates to bury him in a cemetery. PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that the family instead demanded that they inter his remains at his residence.

The dispute generated considerable attention on social media, where the family threatened to exhume the singer’s body if the parties buried him in a cemetery.

They also urged the authorities to establish the circumstances of his death before conducting the burial, expressing concerns about possible foul play.

Reacting to the development, police spokesperson Ayanlade Olayinka said the command stepped in after the disagreement prompted allegations of conspiracy, defamation and conduct that could undermine public peace.

He said the Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, received complaints about the dispute over the burial arrangements after the parties exchanged heated remarks on different public communication platforms.

The singer’s wife, his father, Muniru Olayemi; his friends and associates, Oyindamola Esther, Babadunmi Gbolabo and Lawal Rafiu; his personal assistant; and other representatives later signed a peace undertaking.

The agreement required all parties to maintain peace, conduct themselves responsibly and avoid actions that could provoke unrest.

They also committed to ending public arguments, interviews and discussions that could further inflame tensions over the singer’s death and other related matters.