How Gospel Singer, Matthew Ogundele, Three Others, Died In Music Studio

By Akinwale Kasali

They never had the premonition of their death. They had only planned to rehearse ahead of a Three-Day Birthday Praise Concert organised by a female Gospel Artiste, Olanireti Akinbola at a Music Studio in the Abraham Adesanya area of Ajah, Lagos State.

Sadly, popular gospel singer, Matthew Ogundele, and three of his crew members, identified as Itunu Ogundele, Joseph Sanya and a blogger, Matthew Awosanya, otherwise known as JoesTv, met their untimely death.

It was gathered that the crew had finished late and decided to sleep over in the studio, where their remains were later found the following day, Wednesday.

Sources in the area informed the Magazine that the Convener of the Concert had invited some Gospel Artistes to Minister during her three-day birthday praise, which started last  Monday.

“Segun Praise was scheduled to minister on the second day, and he came with his crew. The session started in the evening and ran late, so they decided to stay overnight in the studio.

“It was the following morning that we heard that their lifeless bodies were found in the studio.”

In reaction to the sudden deaths, some colleagues and friends of the deceased have, in a series of posts online, demanded justice for them.

A Christian blog, Omojesu, in a Facebook post seen on Saturday, stated that the deceased could not return home due to the distance.

“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 of the studio from their homes, they decided to stay overnight at the location. Allegedly, they all passed away in their sleep,” the post read.

It was gathered that the incident was reported at Ajiwe Police Station, and the Police visited the Music Studio and saw the lifeless bodies of the Singer and his crew.

Confirming the incident, Abimbola Adebisi, Lagos Police Spokesperson, said the incident was reported on Wednesday, February 4, by the owner of the studio, Akintayo Akinbola, who is also the husband of the celebrant.

According to her, Akintayo said he left the artistes at his music studio located inside the HFP Shopping Complex on Tuesday night, February 3, after buying food for them, as they were preparing for a music concert.

He explained that the artistes returned to the studio after collecting the food, while he went home.

Adebisi said: “However, at about 11 am on Wednesday, Akintayo said he returned to the studio and discovered that the door was locked from the inside.

“Alarmed by the situation, he reportedly called for help, and the door was eventually forced open. On entering the studio, the lifeless bodies of the four artistes were discovered.”

She added that detectives from the command visited the scene, where photographs were taken, confirming that no marks of violence were found on the bodies, while investigation has commenced into the incident with a view to get to the bottom of it.

She further disclosed that detectives from the command visited the scene, where photographs were taken, adding that no marks of violence were found on the bodies.

“The corpses were taken to the Mainland Hospital, Yaba, where a medical doctor on duty confirmed them dead. The bodies were later deposited at the Mainland General Hospital mortuary, Yaba, for autopsy and preservation,” she added.

Adebisi noted that the case had since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, for further investigation.

This development has however raised several questions as regards the circumstances that led to their demise, with the Police been urged to do a thorough investigation to unravel what led to the death of the Singer and his crew.