For 15 years, Nigerian investigative journalist Kolawole Olawuyi used his television programme, Nkan Nbe, to investigate stories surrounding alleged ritual practices, occultism and mysterious occurrences, earning a reputation that made him a subject of public fascination even after his death.

In an article published by The Republic on November 1, 2026, writer Seyi Lasisi examined the programme’s influence and how Olawuyi’s work shaped public perceptions of him.

Olawuyi died on March 3, 2007, after a brief illness, according to reports. However, his death sparked several rumours, partly because of the disturbing subjects he investigated throughout his career.

Rumours Surrounding His Death

Among the rumours was an allegation that the founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, TB Joshua, was connected to his death following investigations Olawuyi conducted on the church in 1996.

Other speculations linked his death to an investigation into a supposedly haunted village in the Benin Republic.

According to the article, Olawuyi had travelled to the village and discovered that what was presented as a ghost town was allegedly a front for an organised occult group that used staged supernatural occurrences to frighten residents and keep outsiders away.

Another rumour claimed he fell ill after hiring workers to cut down an ancient tree in his compound, despite warnings from previous occupants about its spiritual significance.

There were also claims that he belonged to an occult group, with some rumours focusing on the condition of his body after death.

However, his widow, Abimbola Olawuyi, repeatedly dismissed the speculations before her death in 2026.

How Nkan Nbe Built His Public Image

The article explained that Olawuyi’s television investigations, which involved visiting shrines, interviewing people who claimed to have experienced supernatural encounters and examining mysterious stories across southwestern Nigeria, contributed to his larger-than-life public image.

His distinctive elderly-man costume and presentation style further shaped how audiences perceived him.

According to Lasisi, the public’s continued difficulty accepting the reported circumstances of his death reflects how deeply the programme influenced viewers’ understanding of the journalist.

The writer argued that the scepticism Olawuyi encouraged through his investigations might be the programme’s most enduring legacy.

Olawuyi’s Early Broadcasting Career

Olawuyi began his media career as a radio broadcaster with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria in Ibadan.

From the 1980s until 1992, he was a regular voice on Radio Nigeria 1, where he co-hosted the Thursday morning programme Káàárọ̀, o ò Jíire? alongside the late Ashamu Akinrinde and Babatunde Olaniyi.

His subsequent work on Nkan Nbe established him as a prominent figure in Nigerian investigative broadcasting.