On Thursday, June 30, 2011, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), Tayo Aderinokun’s lifeless body was laid to rest at his residence on 58A, Bourdillon Street, Ikoyi, Lagos. He was dressed in a grey striped suit, white shirt and an orange tie with GTBank’s orange brooch on the lapel of his suit.
It was a one-week burial programme which climaxed on Friday, July 1, 2011.
Tayo Aderinokun’s image was conspicuous everywhere courtesy and stationed at his home in Bordillon, Ikoyi, Lagos. The walkway into the Expo Hall of the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos was also lined with the beautiful pictures of the fine gentleman. While his pictures also decorated the Ikoyi Baptist Church vicinity during the funeral service on Friday, July 1, 2011.
Tayo’s two wives, Olufunlola and Salamotu were also cynosure of all eyes at the event. Olufunlola, the first wife of late Tayo Aderinokun wore a black gown on Thursday and arrived the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos venue of the wake keeping service in the company of her friends and children, Babatunde, Modebolu and Ireoluwa. While the second wife, Salamotu was with her three year old daughter, Oluwatise.
Guests nearly fell on one another in their bid to catch glimpses of the two women especially Salamotu who many people were not privileged to see in the past.
Immediately after the wake keeping service, Tayo’s second wife headed to the exit door with her friends while the first wife stayed back while she was surrounded by attendees. Before this time, however, the two had shunned each other while the proceeding lasted.
According to what was gathered, there is anxiety over Tayo Aderinokun’s will. Sources confirmed that the late banker left a will but the context is being kept under wraps which is causing anxiety among family members over who gets what. But the preacher at the wake keeping service, Rev. Dr. Abayomi warned the family to avoid any quarrel over any inheritance because the owner who worked for those properties is no more alive. He tagged his heart rendering message, ‘Vanity upon vanity’.
No doubt, the family ensured that they gave him a befitting burial and left no stone unturned. The late Tayo Aderinokun was buried in a N2.7 million brown casket. It was provided by MIC Funeral Services. The embalmment, lying in state and other funeral services is said to cost about N17 million. Top decorator, Uche Majekodunmi and the brain behind Newton and David, was paid N20 million for her job. The company provided all the flowers, wreaths and decorated every venue used for the burial. A space at the Vaults and Gardens were the banker was buried is said to cost N3 million which is the standard rate for the special space at the Vaults.
Top dignitaries that graced the funeral service for the deceased include Governors Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun); Former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; former governor of Cross River State, Dr. Donald Duke; wife of Lagos State governor, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola; former Director General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Dr. Ndudi Okereke-Onyiuke; an advertising guru, Mr. Biodun Shobanjo, and Senator Olurunminbe Mamora were also in attendance.
The roll call also included managing directors and chief executive officers of the First Bank, Skye Bank, Intercontinental Bank, Spring Bank and Finbank, among others.
Acting Managing Director of GTB, Mr. Segun Agbaje, also led scores of the bank’s staffers to the service.They joined wife of the deceased, Funlola, her children and other family members to pay last respect to the departed banking icon
