Babadunni Gbolabo, the personal assistant to the late gospel singer Olayemi Bolaji, widely known as Toluwanisings, has described how the singer was taken to between seven and eight hospitals across Ibadan, Oyo State, after he suddenly collapsed, yet all attempts to obtain medical care proved fruitless.
Gbolabo stated that the singer had seemed to be in good health prior to the incident, which took place on Wednesday morning, and noted that while some hospitals pointed to a doctors’ strike, others declined to admit him.
According to a statement released by his family, Toluwanisings passed away in the early hours of Wednesday, October 14, 2026. The family chose not to reveal the cause of his death.
Discussing the incident in Yoruba on Thursday, Gbolabo said he was not there when the singer collapsed but hurried to the scene once he received a phone call.
“I am Babadunni Gbolabo. I am the PA to ToluwaniSings. When it happened in the morning, I wasn’t here, so they called me, and I came,” he said.
“There was nothing wrong with him. He was very fine and in perfect condition. He just slumped. They tried to resuscitate him. They went helter-skelter. They took him to some hospitals, but they were giving excuses.
“Some said doctors were not working because of the strike. Some did not admit him at all. That is how it went. We tried our best, including prayers. We took him to up to seven to eight hospitals in Ibadan, but God said his time was up,” Babadunni said.
Babadunni also stated that the singer’s body was at a mortuary as family members gathered to determine the next steps, including funeral arrangements.
“The family members are here. So, we are all just managing the situation, as the body is currently at the mortuary. Once the family members hold their meeting and are clear on things, that is when we will know the next step to take.
“But they haven’t done the necessary things. Whatever they conclude upon arrival, that is what we will execute,” he said.
