The Oyo State Police Command says it has taken two men to court over the death of gospel singer Olayemi Bayonle Bolaji, known as Toluwanisings. One is accused of recording and sharing a video of the singer’s corpse without his family’s consent. Both are accused of spreading claims that blamed members of his family or circle for his death. These are police allegations. The men have not been convicted.
What the Police Allege and What the Court Has Done So Far
According to a statement issued on Friday, November 13, 2026, by police spokesman DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, the first suspect is Prophet Moses Idowu. Police say he went to the morgue where the singer’s body was kept and claimed to have spiritual power to raise the dead. They allege that he filmed the corpse and posted the footage online without the family’s consent. They also allege that he made unproven claims against the singer’s wife, Olayemi Elizabeth Damilola, and his manager, blaming them for the death.
Mr Idowu was arraigned (formally charged in court) on four counts. They cover unlawful recording and publication of false information, defamation (false statements that harm someone’s good name), indignity to a deceased human body (disrespectful treatment of a dead person’s body) and conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace. The court ordered him remanded (kept in custody while the case continues) at the Correctional Centre. The case was adjourned to December 2, 2026.
In a related case, police say they arrested Oladapo Joshua Dunminimnun on Thursday, November 12. They allege that he posted videos accusing the singer’s personal assistant and family members of causing the death. Police say he kept posting even though he knew about an undertaking (a written promise) signed to stop such publications. He faces charges of publishing false news on Facebook, unlawful publication of defamatory matter and conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace. His case was adjourned to December 11, 2026. The two men are presumed innocent until a court rules otherwise.
A Dispute That Began Weeks Earlier: How Mourning Turned Into Public Conflict
The singer died on October 14, 2026. Reports say he slumped at his home and was rushed to a hospital, where he was confirmed dead. The cause was not stated in those reports. His father said the family wanted the burial delayed until there was a transparent probe into the cause. A disagreement over where to bury him followed, and it spilled onto social media.
On November 3, the widow, the father and associates signed a peace undertaking before the Commissioner of Police. The command said the parties promised to stop spreading claims about the matter through social media, print, radio and blogs, including through their agents. The Commissioner warned that anyone who broke the law would be arrested and prosecuted. The singer, aged 34, was buried at his Ibadan home on Monday, November 9, under tight security. Photography and filming were banned at the burial. Police say the new arrests followed these events.
Earlier Cases Where Death, Rumour and Public Accusation Collided
The best-known recent parallel is the death of singer Mohbad in September 2023. Videos and accusations spread online within days. Police said they would investigate and urged people to stop circulating damaging accusations that could harm the probe. His body was exhumed for an autopsy, but the autopsy was inconclusive on the cause of death. A Lagos coroner’s court later found no evidence of foul play. His family disputed the outcome.
Online attacks continued during that process. In December 2023, lawyers for Mohbad’s widow asked police to protect her and her son from cyberbullying and criminal defamation. His mother said some people were using her son’s death to gain online attention and money. The Mohbad case shows how a real demand for answers can mix with rumour. It also shows that formal inquiries can end without a clear cause.
In the current case, earlier reports from October 28 said a different TikTok prophet was taken into custody after a complaint by the singer’s assistant. Police have not linked that report to the two men now in court.
How Grief, Belief and Viral Attention Fuel Dangerous Claims
When a young public figure dies suddenly, people want an explanation. If the cause is unclear, rumours rush in. Some people truly believe what they say. Others see a chance to gain followers. Religious or spiritual claims can add weight, because they appeal to strong feelings.
The social media setting makes this worse. A video of a body can spread in minutes. A claim that a named person caused a death can spread even faster. Once posted, such material is hard to remove. It can wound a widow and children who are already grieving.
The Wider Effects on Privacy, Justice and Trust in the Country
The case raises national concerns. Dignity of the dead is one. A body filmed without the family’s permission is treated as content instead of as a person. The second concern is fair treatment. People named in viral accusations can be hated by strangers before any court has examined the facts.
There is also a risk in the other direction. Rights groups have long warned that cybercrime and defamation laws can be used against people who speak out. Daily Trust reported that the ECOWAS Court called the old Section 24 of the Cybercrimes Act vague, and that Nigeria’s press freedom ranking fell in 2025. A country needs both: protection for families and freedom to ask questions. When trust in official investigations is low, rumours grow, so credible inquiries matter for the whole nation.
Balancing a Family’s Right to Peace With the Public’s Right to Ask Questions
The arrests have clear benefits. They protect a widow and children from false blame at a painful time. They also send a message that filming the dead for attention is not acceptable. Police have said they want to stop tension that could lead to violence.
But there are risks. Some relatives asked for a proper probe into the death. That is a lawful request, and it is different from naming a person as the killer without proof. Criminal charges over speech can scare people away from raising honest concerns. The cases also depend on the court’s findings. The police claims are allegations, and the accused will have a chance to answer them. Fair handling means protecting the family while keeping lawful questions open.
Practical Ways to Protect the Dead, the Grieving and the Truth
Morgues and hospitals should keep strict rules against filming bodies, and they should check who enters. Police should publish clear updates and complete any inquiry into the cause of death, so rumours have less room. Families who want answers should use official channels, such as the police, health authorities and the coroner.
The public should not share videos of the dead or accuse named people without evidence. Religious leaders should avoid public claims that could mislead or hurt grieving families. Platforms should act quickly on reports of graphic videos of corpses. Courts should handle the cases fairly and without delay.
Mourning Needs Space, and Truth Needs a Fair Process
We offer our condolences to the family and friends of Toluwanisings. His death has already caused deep pain, and no one should have to mourn under the eyes of strangers.
We also believe in fairness. Families deserve privacy, and the dead deserve respect. At the same time, people accused of crimes deserve a fair trial, and people with real concerns deserve a safe way to raise them. Our society needs both. We hope the courts will decide on facts, not on rumours, and that public figures and ordinary citizens will pause before sharing what they cannot prove. Justice grows best when we wait for the facts.
Published by Ejoh Caleb
