GOSPEL ARTISTE, THREE OTHERS FOUND DEAD INSIDE LAGOS MUSIC STUDIO

A gospel artiste, Matthew Ogundele, and three other individuals have been found dead inside a music studio in the Abraham Adesanya area of Ajah, Lagos State.

The deceased include members of the artiste’s crew identified as Itunu Ogundele, Joseph Sanya, and a blogger, Matthew Awosanya, popularly known as JoesMediaTv.

Sunday PUNCH gathered that the victims were invited to minister at a three-day birthday praise programme organised by a female gospel artiste, Olanireti Akinbola. The programme began on Monday, with Ogundele and his team scheduled to perform on Tuesday, the second day of the event.

A police source disclosed that the musical session extended late into the night, prompting the artistes and their crew to remain overnight at the studio due to the distance to their homes.

“The convener invited several gospel artistes to minister during her three-day birthday praise. The session on Tuesday ran late, so Ogundele and his crew decided to sleep over in the studio. Their bodies were discovered the following morning,” the source said.

A Christian blog, Omojesu, also reported in a Facebook post that the victims were unable to return home and allegedly died in their sleep.

The incident was reported at the Ajiwe Police Station, Ajah.

Confirming the development, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP 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 Adebisi, Akintayo stated that he left the artistes at his music studio, located within the HFP Shopping Complex, on Tuesday night after purchasing food for them. He explained that the artistes returned to the studio with the food while he went home.

“On Wednesday at about 11 a.m., he returned to the studio and discovered that the door was locked from the inside. He raised an alarm, and the door was eventually forced open, where the lifeless bodies of the four persons were found,” Adebisi said.

She added that detectives visited the scene, photographs were taken, and no visible signs of violence were found on the bodies.

The remains were taken to the Mainland Hospital, Yaba, where they were confirmed dead by a medical doctor, before being deposited at the Mainland General Hospital mortuary for autopsy.

Adebisi disclosed that the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, for further investigation.

Meanwhile, colleagues and friends of the deceased have taken to social media to demand a thorough investigation and justice.

(Source: Sunday PUNCH, excluding headline)