The family of a 46-year-old Ondo State businessman, Kayode Akinbolusere, has called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death, expressing concerns over a video he reportedly recorded shortly before his demise.
Akinbolusere, popularly known as Tolufe and owner of Esther Estate, reportedly died on Thursday after allegedly ingesting a poisonous substance at his office in Igba, Ondo State.
In a video that circulated on social media before his death, the businessman spoke about his personal and business challenges and declared that he was leaving his properties to his wife, Esther, and their three children, who reside in Canada.
He reportedly stated in the video that nobody pressured him into making the decision.
However, his uncle, Femi Akinbolusere, expressed doubts about whether the businessman made the video voluntarily, insisting that some aspects of its content warranted further investigation by security agencies.
Speaking in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, the uncle questioned the deceased's repeated use of the word “surrender” while discussing the transfer of his properties to his family.
He argued that the choice of words raised concerns about whether the businessman was acting under pressure.
“You heard all he said, laughing that he surrendered. Is that a gift to anybody? Is that a will? It was as if somebody was behind his seat pointing a gun at him. How can somebody say I am surrendering everything to my wife and three children?” he reportedly said.
The uncle called on the police to conduct a forensic examination of the video, investigate individuals who had contact with the deceased before his death, and carry out an autopsy to establish the actual cause of death.
He also questioned some of the issues raised by the businessman concerning his wife, maintaining that the contents of the video should not be treated as conclusive evidence of the circumstances surrounding his death.
Femi urged the police to invite relevant persons for questioning as part of efforts to establish what transpired before the incident.
Meanwhile, the Ondo State Police Command said its preliminary findings had not revealed evidence of foul play, although investigations into the incident were ongoing.
The command's spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.
According to the police, Akinbolusere, who resided at Road 7, Housing Estate, Igba, was found dead in his office near BOVAS Petrol Station at about 3 p.m. on Thursday.
Police officers from the Bolorunduro Division, who visited the scene, reportedly recovered two empty bottles suspected to have contained Sniper insecticide from a nearby bush.
Jimoh also confirmed that the deceased had allegedly recorded a video before his death, in which he spoke about the challenges he was facing.
The remains were subsequently taken to the State Hospital mortuary for preservation and further examination.
The police spokesperson added that no visible marks of violence were observed on the body during the initial examination, noting that further investigations would determine the circumstances surrounding the businessman's death.
The investigation is expected to establish the cause of death and address the concerns raised by the family.