A prominent businessman and owner of Esther Estate in Ondo State, Kayode Akinbolusere, popularly known as Tolufe, has allegedly died by suicide in his office in the Igba area of the state.
Akinbolusere reportedly took a poisonous substance after recording a video in which he expressed his frustration and willed his property to his wife and children.
He was said to have died on Thursday.
In the video, he spoke about his decision to leave all his property to his wife, Akinbolusere Esther, and his three children based in Canada.
He said he took the decision without any pressure and acknowledged the role his wife had played throughout his life.
“I am doing this video on behalf of my family. I, Akinbolusere Kayode, am doing my will on my properties. I am doing this on my own; nobody put pressure on me. I woke up and left for work, leaving my family at home.
“The first and second machines I was using at work developed a fault. I was imagining what was happening. When I started my business, I started from scratch and was very transparent about it.
“My wife knew how I suffered. She didn’t trouble me. I will all my properties to my wife, Akinbolusere Esther, who hails from Ekiti, and my three children who are in Canada.
“My (wife) stood by me when I had nothing and never for once wronged me. She was very supportive when I had nothing, especially when I was working as a barber. I was the one who destroyed everything with carelessness,” Kayode stated.
Reacting to the development, the Ondo State Police Command, in a statement made available to The PUNCH on Friday by its spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said the businessman, a resident of Road 7, Housing Estate, Igba, died in his office beside BOVAS petrol station, Igba town, at about 1500hrs on the said date.
The statement read, “The Ondo State Police Command, under the leadership of CP Felix Ohagwu, has commenced an investigation into the suspected suicide of a 46-year-old man, identified as Akinbolusere Kayode, popularly known as Tolufe, who reportedly died in his office in Igba Town, Ondo State, on Thursday, 29th October 2026.
“The incident was reported following information received from members of the public that the deceased, a resident of Road 7, Housing Estate, Igba, had died in his office located beside BOVAS Petrol Station, Igba Town, at about 1500hrs on the said date.
“Upon receipt of the information, police operatives attached to Bolorunduro Division visited the scene, where two empty bottles suspected to have contained Sniper insecticide were recovered from nearby bush.
“Preliminary findings also revealed that the deceased had allegedly recorded a video before his death, which has since circulated on social media, in which he reportedly lamented about his life struggles.
“His remains were subsequently evacuated and deposited at the State Hospital Morgue for preservation and further examination. No foul play or visible marks of violence were observed on his body at the time of examination.”
The state Commissioner of Police, CP Felix Ohagwu, has ordered a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident to establish the actual cause of death.
He urged members of the public to refrain from speculation and allow the investigation to run its course.
He also encouraged individuals experiencing emotional distress, marital challenges or other personal difficulties to seek timely support and assistance rather than resorting to actions that could endanger their lives.
