Tragedy in the Studio: Lagos Gospel Artiste and Crew Found Dead After Birthday Praise Session
A celebratory night of worship turned into a horrific discovery in the Abraham Adesanya area of Ajah, Lagos. Renowned gospel musician Matthew Ogundele, his crew members Itunu Ogundele and Joseph Sanya, and popular blogger Matthew Awosanya (JoesTv) were found lifeless inside a music studio on Wednesday morning.
The Final Performance
The group had been invited to minister at a virtual three-day birthday praise event organized by fellow artiste Olanireti Akinbola. After performing late into Tuesday night, the victims chose to sleep in the studio located within the HFP Shopping Complex to avoid a late-night commute across Lagos.
Olanireti Akinbola convener of the Praise event and wife of studio owner
Mystery and Suspicion
The studio owner, Akintayo Akinbola, discovered the bodies at 11:00 AM the following day after forcing open the door, which was locked from the inside. While police officials noted no visible signs of violence, disturbing reports and images circulating online suggest traces of blood were found around the victims’ noses, mouths, and ears.
Public speculation has intensified around two primary theories:
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Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: A common silent killer in soundproofed, poorly ventilated Nigerian studios during power outages when generators are used.
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Food Contamination: The studio owner reportedly purchased food for the group before leaving them on Tuesday night.
Renowned gospel musician Matthew Ogundele
State Investigation Underway
Confirming the incident, Lagos State Police PPRO, SP Abimbola Adebisi, announced that the case has been moved to the State CID, Panti, Yaba. Autopsies are currently being conducted at the Mainland General Hospital to determine if the cause of death was accidental, environmental, or foul play.
Colleagues in the gospel music industry have flooded social media with the hashtag #JusticeForMatthewOgundele, demanding a transparent and thorough investigation into the loss of these four young creatives.
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