Tragedy strikes as Lagos hotelier slumps, dies at wife’s 60th birthday thanksgiving
By Jeffrey Agbo
A joyful celebration turned tragic on Saturday when a Lagos hotelier, Kunle Akinyele, suddenly slumped and died during his wife’s 60th birthday thanksgiving service in Lagos.
The shocking incident occurred at Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Iyanu, Odemuyiwa District Headquarters in Egbeda, where family and friends gathered to honour Deaconess Catherine Akinyele.
According to a Facebook post by digital creator Ayoade Ojeniyi, Akinyele appeared visibly distressed during the church service, gesturing for help—possibly asking for water or his inhaler—before collapsing. A video shared online showed the moment just before he slumped.
Efforts to revive him were unsuccessful, and he was confirmed dead shortly after the incident.
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The thanksgiving was to be followed by a grand reception at Noble Castle Events Centre in Igando. Vendors had arrived by 10 a.m. to set up for the event, which was scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. Guests, including the celebrant and her husband, were expected to proceed to the reception following the church service.
However, the festivities were abruptly cancelled when news of Akinyele’s collapse spread. A vendor, still reeling from the tragedy, noted in a Facebook post that the Master of Ceremony had spoken to the Lagos hotelier around 1:23 p.m., only for news of his death to emerge less than an hour later.
“Variety of foods were set, decoration, cocktail, emu oguro, and many more,” the vendor wrote, expressing disbelief over the sudden turn of events. “This is how people die?”
The vendor added that they couldn’t even consider asking for payment, given the heartbreaking circumstances.
As of the time of this report, the cause of death has not been officially confirmed.
Otunba Akinyele was the owner of Ologbo Nla Hotel in Isheri, Idimu area of Lagos State.
