A Lagos hotelier, Otunba Kunle Akinyele, slumped and died during his wife’s 60th birthday thanksgiving service held on Saturday in Lagos.
The incident was shared in a Facebook post by digital creator Ayoade Ojeniyi, who stated that the man had gestured for help, possibly asking for water or an inhaler, before collapsing.
A video accompanying the post showed Akinyele visibly distressed and gesticulating before slumping.
The thanksgiving was held in honour of his wife, Deaconess Catherine Adejoke Akinyele, at Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Iyanu, Odemuyiwa District Headquarters, Egbeda, Lagos State.
According to the event invitation, a reception was to follow immediately at Noble Castle Events Centre in Igando.
According to a Facebook post by one of the event vendors, they arrived at the venue by 10am for the party, which was scheduled to begin by 2pm.
The celebrant, her husband, their children, and guests had gone to church for thanksgiving service and were expected to proceed to the reception afterwards.
But the plans were upended when news filtered in that Akinyele had collapsed in church during his testimony.
Attempts to revive him were said to be unsuccessful.
“Variety of foods were set, decoration, cocktail, emu oguro, and many more,” the vendor wrote, adding that the live band had already arrived with about 25 speakers.
The vendor, still in shock, said the Master of Ceremony had spoken with Akinyele around 1:23 pm, but the news of his death broke less than an hour later.
The event was cancelled, and guests were seen leaving the venue in disbelief.
“This is how people die?” the vendor lamented in the post.
“I can’t possibly ask for my balance for the job,” the vendor added.
As of the time of this report, the cause of death had not been officially confirmed.
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