Popular Lagos Big Boy, Tunji Dokunmu Dies, One Month After Burying Father

Mustapha Tunji Dokunmu

On Sunday, July 19, 2015, the Lagos social circuit, was yet again, thrown into a mourning mood. This was occasioned by the tragic death of Mustapha Olatunji Dokunmu, one of Nigeria’s most prominent Big Boys and socialite. He died after a protracted battle with stroke, which had plagued his health for five years. He was aged 52.


More tragic is the fact that Dokunmu died just barely a month after burying his father, Chief Muraina Akanni Dokunmu (aka Madoks), the popular and gregarious socialite and Balogun of Ake, Egbaland, who died in the first week of June.

Late Chief Dokunmu

The late Chief Dokunmu, 83, was very close to the throne of Egbaland and had lived a successful and gregarious life. He was a member of the Island Club, the Abeokuta Club, the Yoruba Tennis Club, the High Society Club and many other social clubs. The great Juju maestro, Ebenezer Obey had extolled Madoks in many of his favourite hit tracks to exemplify his immensely social popularity.

The ELITES gathered that during the high point of Dokunmu’s battle with stroke, he was flown abroad and admitted at The Wellington Hospital, the largest independent hospital in the United Kingdom, which is located in St John’s Wood, North London. He was reported to have spent one year at the hospital and was discharged when it was discovered that his state of health had improved.

A trained banker, Dokunmu had his early education at the Comprehensive High School, Aiyetoro and the University of Ibadan, where he bagged a Masters degree in Finance and Accounting. His vast experience in financial sector traversed many notable banks. Dokunmu belonged to the class of intellectually robust bankers who helped in shaping and defining what is today, known as the crop of new generational banks.

After his exit from the banking sector, Dokunmu veered into politics, and joined the Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA). He later went ahead to contest for a seat in the House of Representatives election for Abeokuta South Federal Constituency in 2007. Although, he lost the seat, Dokunmu earned the respect of many people on account of his suave style of politics.

Dokunmu, who was a former Social and General Secretary of the Island Club of Lagos, was known to be a charmer, and he made quite a strong impression on many society ladies. Aside his marriage to his official wife Jumoke (née Jagun), which produced three children,

Jumoke Dokunmu

he was also romantically linked with Tola Ademosun, the controversial and party-loving society lady. The affair produced a daughter, Maryam.

Tola Ademosun

Dokunmu later dumped Tola for Fausat, a senior staff of the United Nations.

The remains of Tunji Dokunmu were interred at the Victoria Garden Cementary, Lekki-Epe Expressway, on the 20th Monday, July 2015. His burial was done at Island club yesterday 26th, July, 2015.

He will be sorely missed by a multitude of friends and admirers.