By Habeeb Ibrahim
Fresh controversy has surrounded the burial of late Nigerian gospel singer ToluwaniSings after her maternal uncle questioned the circumstances surrounding the burial, alleging that he was excluded from arrangements for the release and burial of her remains.
The uncle reportedly expressed doubts about whether the body buried was genuinely that of the late singer, claiming that the corpse was taken away from the mortuary without his involvement.
In a video circulating online, the man questioned why he was not consulted before the remains were released, insisting that he was the appropriate family representative to authorise the process.
The uncle further explained that he had previously represented the deceased’s family during her marriage proceedings, claiming that he signed the marriage documents at the court as a representative of her father.
“When Toluwanisings wanted to get married, I was the one who signed at the court as her father’s representative. I don’t know why, but I’m calling people’s attention to this,” he said.
He also questioned why the remains were taken away from the mortuary without what he described as the involvement of the appropriate family representative.
The allegations have introduced another dimension to the controversy surrounding the singer’s death and burial, which had already generated disagreements among members of his family.
Toluwanisings, whose real name was Olayemi Bayonile Bolaji, died on October 14, 2026. His death was announced by his family, although the cause of death was not publicly established.
Following his death, disagreements emerged between his widow, Elizabeth Damilola Olayemi, and members of his paternal family over where he should be buried.
His father, Muniru Olayemi, reportedly wanted him buried at his Ibadan residence or beside his late mother in Ikirun, Osun State, while other family members called for the burial to be suspended pending an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
His uncle, Lawal Ademola Rauf, had also insisted that the singer should be buried beside his mother in Ikirun and warned that the family could exhume his remains if he was buried in a cemetery.
The disagreement eventually attracted the intervention of the Oyo State Police Command.
On November 3, the singer’s widow, father and some associates signed a peace undertaking before the Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Olugbenga, at the command headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan.
The parties reportedly agreed to maintain peace and discontinue public exchanges, interviews and social media publications concerning the burial. disagreement.
Following the intervention, arrangements were concluded for the singer to be buried at his residence in Ibadan.
Toluwanisings was eventually laid to rest on Monday, November 9, in a private ceremony at his residence in Ibadan.
The funeral service was held at Banjola Event and Conference Centre, Alakia, Ibadan, before his remains were transported to his residence for interment.
The burial was attended by family members, while access to the graveside was restricted.
However, the latest allegation by the uncle has raised fresh questions about the level of family involvement in the release and burial of the singer’s remains.
As of the time of filing this report, the allegation questioning the identity of the corpse had not been independently substantiated. There was also no publicly available response from the individuals accused of sidelining the uncle or an official statement from the police addressing his latest claims.
The controversy comes amid lingering questions surrounding the singer’s death, which had earlier attracted public attention after his personal assistant, Babadunni Gbolabo, disclosed that efforts to obtain medical attention for him took them to between seven and eight hospitals in Ibadan.
The assistant said the singer suddenly slumped before efforts were made to secure emergency medical care.
Toluwanisings was known for his gospel songs, including A Very Big God, and his energetic worship ministrations.
