A 63-year-old Lagos father-in-law, David Omolola, has been arraigned and remanded in police custody for allegedly threatening the life of his late son’s widow, Tosin Omolola.
- +Father-in-law remanded over property battle with son’s widow
David was said to have been embroiled in a property dispute with Tosin about eight days after the death of his son, Hammed.
David was said to have been embroiled in a property dispute with Tosin about eight days after the death of his son, Hammed.
The development was disclosed on Friday by an activist, Harrison Gwamnishu, in a post on X, where he shared a copy of the charge sheet alongside the update.
He said, “He (the father-in-law) has been remanded in police custody pending the perfection of his bail. Before I was contacted and shared Tosin’s story, she was on the verge of losing her late husband’s house, car, and other properties.
“Following public attention, the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency took up the case and has now ensured that the matter is before the court. From the information available, the dispute over the late husband’s properties was at the heart of the actions taken against Tosin.
“As the case is now before the court, I will continue to monitor developments. However, I will be mindful not to make comments that could interfere with the ongoing legal proceedings. Thank you all for your unwavering support for Tosin and her two children. Together, we will continue to stand for justice and the protection of widows and vulnerable persons.”
A copy of the charge sheet, signed by an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Oluwatoyin Kazeem, of the Lagos State Police Command and shared by Gwamnishu, was seen by Saturday PUNCH.
The charge sheet read, “That you, Omolola David ‘m’, on the 23rd day of July 2026, at No. 8, Koya Adeniran, Igbo Oluwo Estate, Jumofak, Ikorodu, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conducted yourself in a manner likely to cause breach of peace and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 168(d) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.
“That you, Omolola David ‘m’, on the same date, time and place, in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did threatened to kill one Omolola Oluwatosin ‘f’, your daughter-in-law and her children after a brief altercation and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 232 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.
“That you, Omolola David ‘m’, on the 27th day of July 2026, at the same place, in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did assault one Omolola Oluwatosin ‘f’, your daughter-in-law and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 171 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.” Tosin, her late husband, and two children. Credit: Harrison Gwamnishu | X
The incident drew public attention on Tuesday when the 28-year-old widow shared a video clip on social media in which she lamented an attempted dispossession by her late husband’s family, just eight days after his death.
In a video posted on X by a user identified as Zero Tolerance and seen by Saturday PUNCH, Tosin was seen sobbing while voices believed to be those of her mother-in-law, brother-in-law and sister-in-law could be heard in the background inside the apartment.
“They have beaten me severely,” the widow could be heard saying in Yoruba amid sobs as the footage suggested she was struggling with someone while holding the phone used to record the incident.
“Hammed, you didn’t do well. Death has spoilt honour. Ah, God, God, why?” she could be heard saying.
A man, believed to be David, was also heard shouting and hurling insults in Yoruba, while two other individuals appeared to be trying to calm him down.
“You must get out of this house!” the man believed to be David said.
In a series of posts on his social media handles on Tuesday, Gwamnishu called on the relevant authorities to intervene, alleging that Tosin’s life had been thrown into turmoil by her late husband’s family.
He wrote, “Her father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law, and his wife left their house and moved into the home of her late husband and ordered the young widow to pack all her personal belongings, along with those of her two young sons, into just one room inside the house.
“To make matters worse, some of her late husband’s properties have reportedly already been shared, while plans are underway to sell his car. This grieving widow is now living in fear for herself and her two children.
“She is appealing to the Lagos State Government, especially the DSVA, to urgently intervene and protect her and her children from intimidation, unlawful dispossession, and any further actions that may deprive her children of their late father’s inheritance. No widow should have to fight for dignity, shelter, and justice just days after losing her husband.”
On Wednesday, Gwamnishu shared another video on X showing David padlocking the gate to his late son’s apartment.
“This man here is Tosin’s father-in-law,” he wrote. “See him padlocking the gate, locking Tosin outside. He has his own house. They are after properties and forgetting there are two children left behind.
“Tosin is now being threatened for going public. While waiting for the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, a petition will be submitted to the Lagos State Police Command to ensure Tosin and her children are protected. The demand is simple: The in-laws should move to their houses and allow Tosin to mourn her late husband.”
Responding through its official X account, the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency stated that it had been alerted to allegations of threats, intimidation and attempts to dispossess the widow of her late husband’s property.
“The agency successfully established contact with the survivor, who alleged that she had been subjected to threats to her life, physical assault and intimidation following the recent death of her husband. She further informed the agency that the matter had already been reported to the Owutu Police Division.
“As part of its intervention, the agency commenced engagement with the investigating police officers handling the case. Preliminary feedback from the police confirms that the alleged perpetrator has been arrested and is currently in custody, while investigations continue,” the agency said.
In a video posted later on Wednesday on Instagram, Gwamnishu disclosed that David had been arrested by the police in the early hours of the day, at about 12 a.m. or 1 a.m.
He added, “The father-in-law was moved out of the house by security agencies. So, the father-in-law is currently in police custody.
“We don’t have any issue with the father-in-law, but if your son died, please, don’t trouble the wife and children he left behind.
“You don’t have the right to sell property that do not belong to you. It belongs to the surviving children and the legally married wife.”
