One of the co-founders of Bukka Hut, a Lagos State-based eatery, Laolu Martins, is dead. He was reported to have committed suicide in Lekki, Lagos, at about 3am, September 28.
Martins, who was a banker with over 21 years of experience in investment banking, corporate banking, stockbroking, asset and pension fund management, died on Tuesday night.
The family of the deceased confirmed his death in a statement on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, a journalist, Eniola Daniel, said on Twitter that Martins committed suicide in Lekki, Lagos, at around 3am, September 28.
According to reports in the media, two narratives had been trailing the circumstances surrounding the death of the late Laolu Martins.
The first narrative indicated that Martins, who was suffering from depression, committed suicide. The second version stated that the businessman suddenly slumped and died while being rushed to a hospital for treatment around 3am.
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.
Martins started his career with PricewaterhouseCoopers in 1999. He joined Investment Banking & Trust Company Plc now Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc where he served in the Financial Control and Trade Finance/Foreign Operations units of the Bank before being seconded to Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Ltd where at various times he was Financial Controller, Head Asset Management and lastly Head Stockbroking.
He later resigned in 2005 to join Shell Nig. CPFA Ltd, the Fund Manager of the Shell Companies in Nigeria Pensions Scheme where he was Head, Investments up till 2008 when he resigned to join Nigeria International Security Limited, NISL, an independent financial services firm specializing in investments within the Nigerian space
