By Adeyinka Adeniran
The Oyo State Police Command has arraigned two individuals before a court of competent jurisdiction on charges bordering on the unlawful publication of false information, defamation, offering indignity to a deceased human body, and conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace.
The suspects, identified as Prophet Moses Idowu and Oladapo Joshua Dunminimnun, were docked on Friday, following separate police investigations into the circulation of unauthorized videos and unsubstantiated allegations surrounding the death of popular gospel singer Olayemi Bayonle Bolaji, widely known as Toluwanisings.
According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, the actions of the suspects were capable of causing severe emotional distress to the bereaved family and disturbing the peace of the state.
In the first case, Prophet Moses Idowu was arrested after an incident in which he visited the morgue housing the remains of the late gospel singer, claiming to possess the spiritual powers required to resurrect a deceased person.
During his visit to the facility, Idowu allegedly recorded a video of Toluwanisings’ corpse and subsequently circulated the footage across social media platforms without the consent or authorization of the bereaved family, thereby subjecting the body to public indignity.
Beyond the unauthorized recording and sharing of the deceased’s remains, the suspect also allegedly published baseless claims accusing the late singer’s wife, Mrs. Olayemi Damilola, and his manager of being responsible for his death without presenting any substantiated evidence.
Following his arrest and investigation, Idowu was arraigned on a four-count charge encompassing the unlawful recording and publication of false information, the unlawful publication of defamatory matter, improperly offering indignity to a dead human body by recording and publishing its image without family consent, and conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace.
After his plea was taken, the presiding court ordered that the suspect be remanded at a Correctional Centre, adjourning the matter to December 2, 2026, for further proceedings.
In a related development involving the same deceased singer, the police command arrested the second suspect, Oladapo Joshua Dunminimnun, on Thursday, November 12, 2026, over the alleged publication of false and defamatory content on social media platforms, including Facebook.
In the videos he circulated, Dunminimnun accused the deceased’s Personal Assistant and other members of his family of being responsible for his death, further spreading damaging claims against individuals already grieving their loss.
Police investigations revealed that Dunminimnun deliberately proceeded to produce and share the videos containing unsubstantiated allegations against the late singer, his wife, and other relatives despite being fully aware of a signed undertaking restraining individuals from making any print or digital publications concerning the deceased.
His actions also defied several explicit warnings and cautions previously issued by both the bereaved family and the police against the circulation of unverified information.
Consequently, Dunminimnun was arraigned on charges bordering on the publication of false news on Facebook, unlawful publication of defamatory matter, and conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace, with the court adjourning his case to December 11, 2026, for further proceedings.
Reacting to the twin arraignments, the Oyo State Police Command expressed deep concern over the growing tendency of some individuals to exploit social media platforms to spread unverified claims, expose sensitive images, and make defamatory statements, particularly during emotionally charged periods involving death.
While emphasizing that the police recognize and respect the constitutional right of citizens to freedom of expression, the command maintained that such rights must be exercised responsibly and strictly within the confines of the law.
The Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP Abimbola Olugbenga, has strongly cautioned members of the public, social media users, and content creators against using digital spaces to disseminate false information, share sensitive images of deceased persons, or level reckless accusations without credible evidence.
He advised the public to respect the dignity of the dead, show compassion and consideration for grieving families, and allow established investigative and judicial processes to determine matters surrounding suspicious deaths.
Reaffirming the command’s commitment to upholding the law and holding digital offenders accountable, the Commissioner urged residents to exercise restraint, verify information before publication, and cooperate with security agencies to maintain peace and safety across the state.
