The family of the late gospel singer Toluwani Olayemi, popularly known as Toluwanisings, has called for an investigation into his death and said his burial should be delayed until the circumstances are clarified.
The call comes amid disagreement over where the singer, who died on October 14, 2026, should be laid to rest.
His father, Mr Muniru Adekunle Olayemi, said he wanted his son buried at the house he built, but that the singer’s wife preferred a cemetery.
In a recent interview, Olayemi said he visited his daughter-in-law after learning of his son’s death online and requested that the burial take place at the house.
“I don’t want him buried in a church or cemetery. I want him buried in his house and that will make me happy,” he said, adding that prayers could also be held there.
An uncle of the singer said the family had agreed that the burial should not go ahead until an investigation had been carried out.
“We call on the government to carry out a proper investigation on the death of Toluwani. Nobody should attempt to bury him and the whole family have concluded that he should not be buried yet,” he said.
The uncle said relatives who travelled to Ibadan had initially planned to proceed with the burial but wanted to see the singer’s body first. He also claimed that the singer had wished to be buried at his house, while his wife objected.
Olayemi said his son went to live with his maternal relatives after his mother died in 1992, a few months after his birth. He said the relatives, who are Christians, raised the singer, and that he remained in contact with his son and supported his education.
The father identified the singer’s Muslim name as Sodiq Olayemi Bayonle. The uncle also said he was born into a Muslim family and later became a Christian while living with his maternal relatives.
The singer’s grandmother, speaking in an interview with Dumininu, also expressed a preference for him to be buried at the house he built.
She said she did not want him buried beside his late mother, adding that she had only recently learnt of his popularity as a gospel singer and that he had built a house.
“When I heard about his death I was very touched and it’s a deep sorrow for me,” she said.
The singer’s wife’s account was not included in the information provided.
