‘Peacemaker’ Babalola Layeni Dies While Settling Disputes Over Late Brother’s Properties

P.M. EXPRESS can report that the death of an Ibadan-based businessman cum industralist, Akinola Layeni on 21 February, 2016, and the properties he left behind for his seven sons and two daughters has degenerated into a family crisis that has also claimed the life of Babalola Layeni, a brother to Akinola Layeni who was aged 84 until his death.

It was gathered that the seven sons born to different wives of the late Akinola Layeni were at loggerheads with the last wife, Mrs Folashade Layeni and her two daughters, Abisola and Oluwakemi. The fight against the last wife was to prevent her and her daughters from having any share in the properties left behind by their late father. However, Mrs Folashade Layeni was reported to be helpless in rising against the seven sons, until the brother to her late husband, Babalola Layeni came to her rescue as god-sent peacemaker.

Wife to the late Babalola Layeni, Funmilayo informed P.M. EXPRESS that unknown to her husband, the peace making mission of her husband did not go down well with the seven sons who allegedly planned the abduction of Babalola on 7 August, 2017.

“We made all effort to search for my husband for days until on 12 August, 2017 when we found his death body. I know that the abduction of my husband and his death could not be unconnected with his interference in the family disputes over the properties of his late brother.

“What he did was to ensure that there is peace between the seven children and the last wife of his brother not knowing that this would lead to his death. My husband paid a supreme prize of being a peacemaker” Funmilayo Layeni told P.M. EXPRESS in an emotional laden voice at her residence at Eleyele area of Ibadan.