ToluwaniSings: Aide Says Singer Was Taken to Eight Hospitals After Slumping

The personal assistant to late Nigerian gospel singer Olayemi Bayonile Bolaji, popularly known as ToluwaniSings, has said attempts to obtain medical attention for the musician failed after he suddenly slumped in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The aide, Babadunni Gbolabo, said the singer was taken to between seven and eight hospitals, with some facilities reportedly citing doctors’ unavailability or an ongoing strike.

The account was reported by The ICIR on Thursday, October 15, following an interview with Gbolabo by BBC Yoruba.

ToluwaniSings died in the early hours of Wednesday, October 14, according to a statement released by his family and shared on his Instagram account. The family did not disclose the cause of his death.

Recounting the circumstances surrounding the incident, Gbolabo said he was not present when the singer slumped but rushed to the scene after receiving a telephone call.

He said the singer had appeared to be in good health before the incident and that people around him made efforts to revive him before seeking medical assistance.

According to the aide, some hospitals said their doctors were unavailable because of a strike, while others allegedly failed to admit the singer.

Gbolabo said those around the singer made several attempts to secure treatment but were unsuccessful.

The circumstances surrounding the reported visits to the hospitals have not been independently established, and the available reports do not identify all the facilities involved or provide their individual accounts of what happened.

ToluwaniSings reportedly performed at In His Presence, a monthly worship programme organised by fellow gospel singer Bidemi Olaoba in Ibadan on Tuesday, October 13, less than 24 hours before his death.

The ICIR reported that other gospel musicians also participated in the event.

The singer was known for gospel songs, including A Very Big God and Onibuore.

His death was confirmed by his family in a statement announcing the passing of Minister Olayemi Bayonile Bolaji in the early hours of October 14.

The family described him as a beloved husband, family member and gospel minister, while asking the public to keep his wife and other relatives in their prayers.

It also said details of his funeral arrangements would be communicated in due course.

The aide’s account has raised questions about the circumstances in which the singer sought emergency medical attention.

However, the available reports do not establish the names of all the hospitals visited, the precise times of arrival, the medical condition in which the singer was presented at each facility or the reasons each hospital may have given for not admitting him.

There is also no independently verified medical report in the sources reviewed establishing the cause of death or determining whether earlier treatment would have changed the outcome.

As of Thursday, October 15, the reports reviewed did not contain a detailed response from the hospitals allegedly involved.

The singer’s family was expected to communicate further information about funeral arrangements after consultations.