The Lagos State Police Command has arrested the owner of a music studio in connection with the death of popular gospel artiste Matthew Ogundele, widely known as Segun Praise, and three other persons discovered lifeless inside a 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 called JoesTv.
Confirming the arrest on Sunday, the police spokesperson, Abimbola Adebisi, told PUNCH Metro that the suspect — identified as the organiser of the gospel event where the victims were scheduled to perform — is currently in police custody.
According to her, the case was initially reported at the Ajah Police Division before being transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.
“One suspect, identified as the organiser of the event, is currently in custody. Investigation is ongoing while we await the autopsy report,” Adebisi said.
Investigations revealed that the victims were invited to minister during the second day of a three-day virtual birthday praise programme organised by a female gospel artiste, Olanireti Akinbola.
A police source disclosed that the programme, which began on Monday, extended late into the night on Tuesday, prompting the artistes to sleep over at the studio. Their bodies were discovered the following morning.
“Segun Praise came with his crew. Because the programme ended late, they decided to sleep in the studio. Their lifeless bodies were found the next day,” the source said.
A Christian blog, Omojesu, also reported that the victims stayed overnight because the studio was far from their residences.
The incident has sparked outrage on social media, with colleagues, fans, and rights advocates demanding justice and a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
While the exact cause of death remains unknown, speculations have ranged from inhalation of generator fumes to possible food poisoning.
Police spokesperson Adebisi disclosed that the studio owner, Akintayo Akinbola, who is also the husband of the celebrant, reported the incident to the police on Wednesday.
She said the suspect informed investigators that he bought food for the artistes on Tuesday night before leaving them inside the studio located within the HFP Shopping Complex, Ajah.
“He said he returned around 11am the next day and found the studio door locked from the inside. With help, the door was forced open and the bodies of the four artistes were discovered,” she explained.
Detectives who examined the scene reportedly found no visible marks of violence on the bodies.
The corpses were later taken to Mainland Hospital, Yaba, where a doctor confirmed them dead. The bodies have since been deposited at a mortuary for autopsy and preservation.
Meanwhile, associates of the deceased alleged that the female celebrant had gone into hiding, noting that her husband remains the only person in police custody.
In a tearful video circulating online, the mother of one of the victims appealed for justice, describing the deaths as painful and suspicious.
“They left for a programme on Tuesday. There were four of them. We kept calling, but there was no response. Later, we found their bodies. Please don’t let me suffer in vain,” she pleaded.
Cases of sudden deaths in enclosed spaces have been reported across Nigeria in recent years, often linked to generator fumes, poor ventilation, or electrical faults.
In January, PUNCH Metro reported that a family of six in Rivers State died from suspected generator fume inhalation.
