Monday, February 9, 2026 -A gospel musician, Matthew Ogundele, alongside three members of his crew, has been found dead inside a music studio in the Abraham Adesanya area of Ajah, Lagos State.
The other victims were identified as Itunu Ogundele, Joseph
Sanya, and a blogger, Matthew Awosanya, popularly known as JoesTv.
Findings indicate that the deceased were invited to minister
on Tuesday, the second day of a three-day birthday praise programme organised
by fellow gospel artiste, Olanireti Akinbola.
A police source disclosed on Saturday that the artistes
arrived for the programme in the evening and performed late into the night.
Owing to the late hour, they reportedly chose to spend the
night in the studio, where they were later discovered dead the following
morning.
“The convener organised a three-day birthday praise which
began on Monday. Matthew Ogundele and his crew were billed to minister on
Tuesday. The programme lasted late, so they decided to sleep over in the
studio. It was the next morning that information filtered in that their
lifeless bodies had been found,” the source said.
A Christian blog, Omojesu, also reported the incident in a
Facebook post, stating that the victims opted to stay overnight because of the
distance between the studio and their homes.
“In pursuit of a better life, a blogger known as JoesMediaTv
and three musicians were reportedly invited to perform at a virtual birthday
praise event at a studio around Ajah. Due to the distance, they decided to
sleep over. Sadly, they were said to have passed away in their sleep,” the post
read.
The matter was subsequently reported at the Ajiwe Police
Station, Ajah, while colleagues and friends of the deceased have taken to
social media to demand justice.
Images circulating online showed traces of blood around the
noses, mouths, and ears of the victims, triggering public concern and
speculation over the circumstances of their deaths.
Confirming the incident, the Lagos State Police Public
Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, said the case was reported on Wednesday
by the studio owner, Akintayo Akinbola, who is also the husband of the
celebrant.
According to her, Akinbola told the police that he left the
artistes in his studio, located within the HFP Shopping Complex, on Tuesday
night after buying food for them while they prepared for a music concert.
“He stated that the artistes returned to the studio with the
food while he went home. However, at about 11 a.m. on Wednesday, he returned
and discovered that the studio door was locked from the inside.
“Alarmed, he raised the alarm and the door was forced open.
Upon entry, the lifeless bodies of the four artistes were found inside the
studio,” Adebisi said.
She added that detectives immediately visited the scene and
documented their findings, noting that no visible signs of violence were
observed on the bodies.
“The corpses were taken to the Mainland Hospital, Yaba,
where a medical doctor confirmed them dead. They were later deposited at the
Mainland General Hospital mortuary for autopsy and preservation,” she said.
Adebisi also disclosed that the case had been transferred to
the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Panti, Yaba, for
comprehensive investigation to determine the exact cause of death.
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