John Okoro
Tragedy struck the Nigerian gospel music scene as Matthew Ogundele, a renowned gospel artist, and three of his associates were discovered deceased inside a recording studio in Lagos’s Abraham Adesanya Estate, Ajah.
The victims included Itunu Ogundele, Joseph Sanya, and prominent blogger Matthew Awosanya, widely recognized as JoesTv.
Investigations revealed that the group had been invited to perform at a three-day birthday praise event organized by fellow gospel musician Olanireti Akinbola, where they were scheduled to minister on the second day.
A police insider reported that the musicians arrived for the event in the evening and performed late into the night.
Due to the late hour, the victims allegedly chose to spend the night at the studio, where they were later found unresponsive the following morning.
“The three-day praise and worship event commenced on Monday, with Matthew Ogundele and his team set to perform on Tuesday. The session ran late, prompting them to stay overnight at the studio. The next morning, they were discovered lifeless,” disclosed the source.
Christian news outlet Omojesu shared the incident via Facebook, explaining that the victims stayed overnight due to the considerable distance between the studio and their residences.
“Four individuals, including a blogger known as JoesMediaTv, were invited to perform at a birthday celebration in an Ajah studio. Given the late hour and long commute, they opted to sleep at the venue, only to tragically pass away in their sleep,” the post stated.
The case was officially reported at the Ajiwe Police Station in Ajah, while friends and colleagues expressed outrage on social media, demanding justice.
Disturbing images circulating online showed bloodstains near the victims’ noses and ears, raising public concerns about the suspicious circumstances surrounding their deaths.
Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer SP Abimbola Adebisi confirmed receiving the report from studio owner Akintayo Akinbola, the spouse of the event organizer.
According to Adebisi, Akinbola informed authorities that he provided food for the musicians before leaving them in the studio, situated within HFP Shopping Complex, to prepare for their performance.
“The host stated he left the artists in the studio after providing dinner. When he returned the next morning around 11 a.m., the studio door was locked from inside. After forcing entry, they found all four men deceased,” the officer explained.
Adebisi confirmed that forensic experts inspected the scene but found no obvious signs of physical trauma on the bodies.
“The victims were transported to Mainland Hospital, Yaba, where medical staff pronounced them dead. Their remains were subsequently moved to the morgue for autopsy and preservation,” she added.
The case has since been escalated to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Panti, Yaba, for thorough examination to ascertain the precise cause of death.
David Ochayi
