Gospel singer Lanre Alewilese has apologised to Elizabeth Akanbi, wife of late gospel musician Toluwanisings, following controversy over his decision to organise a ₦6m fundraiser for Shadrach Taiwo, a UK-based relative of the deceased, to support his education.

Mr Alewilese tendered the apology in a statement published on his Facebook page after facing criticism over the fundraising. He also explained his actions in an Instagram video on Wednesday.

The controversy followed the sharing of an audio recording by an Instagram user, Yinka TNT, purportedly featuring Toluwanisings complaining about the financial burden of sponsoring Shadrach’s education in the United Kingdom.

In the recording, the late singer was allegedly heard saying he had spent about ₦12m on the young man’s education and could no longer sustain the responsibility.

Yinka TNT also alleged that the financial disagreement had caused a rift between Toluwanisings and members of his maternal family.

The issue attracted further attention on Wednesday after the content creator shared a payment receipt showing that ₦6m had been transferred to Shadrach days after the singer’s death.

Why Alewilese raised the money

Responding to the backlash, Mr Alewilese said he did not know Shadrach was not Toluwanisings’ biological sibling until after the singer’s death.

He explained that the deceased had introduced Shadrach to him as his full brother, from the same father and mother, and had never disclosed otherwise.

“Before Toluwani died, he introduced Shadrach Taiwo to me as his sibling from the same father and mother. He never told anyone about their relationship. This was the same boy that played the role of best man at his wedding,” he said.

Mr Alewilese added that Toluwanisings had previously approached him for assistance in facilitating Shadrach’s travel to the United States, although the plan did not materialise.

He later learnt that Shadrach had secured admission in the UK and that the late singer had been paying his tuition fees annually.

According to him, he was in the United Kingdom when Toluwanisings died and obtained Shadrach’s contact details from a member of the deceased’s band.

He said Shadrach told him that he had spoken with Toluwanisings three days before his death, during which the singer promised to pay his £6,500 school fees.

Shadrach also reportedly informed him that his UK visa was due to expire at the end of October and that the Home Office had been asking him to renew it.

Apology over fundraising approach

Mr Alewilese said he could not immediately discuss the situation with Toluwanisings’ wife, prompting him to create a group to solicit financial support for Shadrach.

He maintained that contributors donated believing the young man was a blood relative of the late singer.

He said the fundraising took place before information about the family disagreement emerged from Ikirun.

In his Facebook statement titled “Public Apology and Clarification,” Mr Alewilese admitted that he acted impulsively by helping to raise money for Shadrach’s school fees based on the information available to him at the time.

He apologised to Elizabeth Akanbi, as well as his colleagues, actors and actresses in the entertainment industry who might have been affected by the controversy.

He said his actions were not motivated by deception or personal interest but by concern and a desire to ensure that the late singer’s commitment to Shadrach’s education was not abandoned.

“My intention was never to mislead anyone, create controversy, or take advantage of the situation. I acted out of concern, compassion, and a desire to ensure that the efforts of someone I deeply respected were not wasted,” he wrote.

Mr Alewilese accepted responsibility for his approach and expressed regret that he had not exercised better judgement before getting involved.

Toluwanisings’ death and burial dispute

Toluwanisings died on 14 October after reportedly being turned away by some hospitals while seeking medical attention.

His death was followed by a disagreement over his burial arrangements, which was eventually resolved after the Oyo State Police Command secured a peace undertaking from the parties involved.

The gospel singer was later buried at his residence on Monday.