Oyo police arraign prophet, another over Toluwanisings’ corpse video, death allegations

By Adejayan Gbenga

The Oyo State Police Command has arraigned two men over the alleged unauthorised recording and circulation of a video showing the remains of late gospel singer Olayemi Bayonle Bolaji, popularly known as Toluwanisings, and the publication of unsubstantiated allegations linking some of his relatives to his death.

The suspects, identified as Prophet Moses Idowu and Oladapo Joshua Dunminimnun, were arraigned separately following investigations into their alleged activities on social media. The command disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday by its Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka.

According to the police, Idowu was arrested after visiting the morgue where the singer’s remains were deposited, claiming he had the spiritual ability to bring dead people back to life. The command alleged that he recorded a video of the deceased’s body and circulated it online without the consent or authorisation of the family.

The police also accused the prophet of publishing allegations that the singer’s wife, Olayemi Elizabeth Damilola, and his manager were responsible for his death without providing evidence. He was charged with four offences, including unlawful recording and publication, defamation, undignified treatment of a deceased person’s body and conduct capable of disturbing public peace. The court ordered his remand in a correctional facility and adjourned the case until December 2, 2026.

In a separate case, the police arraigned Dunminimnun following his arrest on Thursday, November 12, over alleged defamatory social media publications concerning the singer’s death. The command alleged that he shared videos accusing the deceased’s personal assistant and family members of having a hand in his death.

The police said investigations showed that Dunminimnun continued making the publications despite being aware of an undertaking signed by the parties involved, prohibiting publications about the deceased through print or other media. He was charged with offences relating to the publication of false information on Facebook, unlawful publication of defamatory material and conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace. His case was adjourned until December 11, 2026.

Meanwhile, the command expressed concern over the circulation of unverified allegations and sensitive images on social media, particularly those involving deceased persons and grieving families. It warned social media users and content creators against sharing images of dead persons or making allegations against individuals without credible evidence, urging Nigerians to respect the dignity of the dead and allow investigative and judicial processes to determine the circumstances surrounding suspicious deaths.

Toluwanisings died in Ibadan on October 14, 2026, after reportedly collapsing. His death sparked reactions on social media, with allegations emerging over the circumstances surrounding the incident and the possible involvement of some people close to him.