The grandmother of late gospel singer Olayemi Bayonile Bolaji, popularly known as Toluwanisings, has accused him of neglecting her for years before his death, claiming that he stopped providing financial assistance after sending her small amounts of money on a few occasions.
Sabitiyu Olayemi made the allegations in Yoruba during an interview with journalist Dunmininu in Osun State. The interview, uploaded on social media on Monday, also saw the elderly woman oppose plans to bury the singer in a cemetery, insisting that his remains should be laid to rest at the house he built.
The allegations have added another dimension to the controversy surrounding Toluwanisings’ death, with members of his family divided over his burial arrangements and calls for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
Recounting her relationship with the late singer, the grandmother said she had helped care for him and his mother before he moved to Lagos.
She recalled visiting him during his secondary school years and said he also attended Arabic schools before pursuing his music career.
However, she claimed she had not seen him for more than five years before his death.
Although she knew he had become a musician, the grandmother said she was unaware that he had built a house or held a housewarming ceremony.
She further alleged that people around the singer discouraged her from contacting him, making it difficult for her to maintain a relationship with her grandson.
The elderly woman recounted that she eventually arranged for someone in the village to help her call him because she wanted to speak with him.
During the conversation, she said she complained that he had failed to check on her, while he reportedly attributed his absence to work commitments.
According to her, Toluwanisings subsequently sent her ₦10,000 on about three occasions but stopped sending money afterwards.
She also alleged that when her mobile phone was damaged, she approached the singer’s elder sibling for assistance in contacting him to request a replacement. However, she claimed the sibling discouraged her from calling him.
The grandmother further maintained that the singer did not send her medication or provide money for medical expenses despite her advanced age.
Despite the alleged neglect, she said she was devastated when she learnt of his death, stressing that their strained relationship had not erased the bond between them.
She expressed deep sorrow over the loss, adding that she had accepted her fate but wished she had died before witnessing the tragedy.
GRANDMOTHER REJECTS CEMETERY BURIAL
Beyond the allegations of neglect, the grandmother strongly opposed plans to bury Toluwanisings in a cemetery.
She insisted that he should be buried at the house he built, arguing that his remains should not be interred close to his mother.
Her position has further complicated the dispute over the late singer’s final resting place, with other members of the family also expressing their preferences.
Toluwanisings’ father, Muniru Adekunle Olayemi, had earlier said he wanted his son buried either in the house he built or beside his late mother in Osun State.
The father also disputed reports that the singer was 44 years old when he died, insisting that he was 34.
UNCLE DEMANDS PROBE INTO DEATH
The burial disagreement has coincided with growing calls for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the singer’s death.
A man who identified himself as Toluwanisings’ uncle, Lawal Ademola, has called for an impartial investigation, warning against interference or attempts to conceal relevant details.
He urged those concerned to ensure that the circumstances surrounding the singer’s death were thoroughly examined.
The latest revelations from the grandmother have brought renewed attention to the family’s relationships, the singer’s final days and the dispute over his burial.
However, her allegations of neglect and the competing accounts from family members have not been independently reconciled. The grandmother’s interview alone does not establish the full history of her relationship with the late singer or determine the circumstances of his death.
