The co-founder and Executive Director of BHukka Hospitality Limited, owners of a restaurant chain, Bukka Hut, Laolu Martins, is dead.
A source told one of our correspondents that two narratives had been trailing the circumstances surrounding the death.
According to the source, the first narrative indicated that Martins, who was suffering from depression, committed suicide.
He said the second version stated that the businessman suddenly slumped and died while being rushed to a hospital for treatment around 3am.
During a visit to one of the restaurants on Herbert Macaulay Way, Alagomeji, Yaba, Lagos State, one of our correspondents observed that normal business activities were ongoing on the premises.
A worker at the restaurant, who spoke on condition of anonymity over fear of losing his job, said, “Yes, we learnt about his death, but I am not aware of the cause and no official statement has been given concerning it.”
Bukka Hut, in a statement posted on its official Twitter handle, @BukkaHut, expressed sadness over the incident.
The Managing Director of the company, Rasheed Jaiyeola, in the statement, described Martins as a strong pillar in the business.
The statement read, “With a heavy heart we regret to announce the demise of one of our directors and co-owners, Mr Olaolu Martins, who was until his death a key contributor and strong pillar to our business from inception to date. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones. May his dear soul rest in perfect peace.”
Also reacting to the development, the deceased’s family, in a statement, appealed to the public for privacy as they mourned his death.
The statement read in part, “Our kind request is that you support the family – wife, children, aged mother and father and his siblings with your prayers at this difficult time. Further announcements will be made by the family.”
Until his death, Martins was also an investment banking expert, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute Stockbrokers, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and the Association of Investment Advisers & Portfolio Managers.
He was said to have served as an independent member of the Investment Committee of Skye Financial Services Limited.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said the command had yet to get a report of the incident as of the time this report was filed.