Laolu Martins, Co-founder of Bukka Hut, a leading Nigerian fast-food chain is dead.
Martins’ death was confirmed in a statement by his family on Wednesday.
According to the statement, the quintessential banker with over 21 years of experience in investment banking, corporate banking, stockbroking, asset management, and pension fund management died on the evening of Tuesday, September 27, 2022.
“We hereby solicit the support and understanding of everyone as the family grieves the loss of our beloved Laolu in our privacy.
“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,” the statement said.
NewsClick Nigeria gathered that contrary to reports flying around in some sections of the media that the seasoned banker committed suicide, he actually died from injuries sustained after hitting his head on the stairs.
‘The suicide story being peddled by some media outlets is entirely false and insensitive to the family of the beloved but now departed Laolu Martins. He died on Tuesday (yesterday) after hitting his head on the floor from falling on the stairs at Lenox Mall. He never committed suicide,’ a close source who craved anonymity told NewsClick Nigeria on Wednesday evening.
Meanwhile, his partner and MD/CEO of Bukka Hut, Rasheed Jaiyeola in a tribute said the late Martins ‘was until his death a key contributor and strong pillar to our business from inception to date’.
Who is Laolu Martins?
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 specialising in investments within the Nigerian space.