Laolu Martins, an investment banking expert, who was also the co-founder and executive director of Bukka Hut, is dead.
Bukka Hut is a restaurant that offers a wide variety of tasty homemade meals.
The worst hit besides his family, is his partner and Co-Founder of Bukka Hut, Rasheed Jayeola, who only recently led his team to open their 15th outlet in the Ikorodu part of Lagos State.
A renowned theatre producer and investment banker, Joseph Edgar, aka The Duke of Shomolu, has confirmed the incident that the CEO of NISL Ventures allegedly committed suicide.
Martins committed suicide in his home in the early hours of Tuesday, 3 am precise, after giving up on his alleged long-fought battle against depression.
Duke of Shomolu revealed that Martins did slip but the late businessman didn’t hit his head; he slipped into depression after losing a bet.
In a tribute titled Laolu Martins – sad end to a beautiful life, Edgar wrote:
I just got a call from my sister Ore. Edgar see what i am seeing o. Pls check if its true
It was a post about Laolu. He was said to have committed suicide at 3am this morning in Lekki.
I screamed. Made a call and confirmed the incidence.
They said he had taken a bet against the dollar and with this rubbish going on in the forex markets he lost big time and may have sliped into a depression leading to this.
These are not confirmed but what is confirmed is that Laolu is no more.Laolu was brilliant. A stockbroker, Asset Manager and an Investment banker.
I first met him while he was at Shell Trustees. He was a brilliant Fund manager who used to give me business.
I was then in BGL and had pencilled down Shell Trustees, First Trustees and NPA Superannuation Fund to break
I had broken the other two with First Trustees where the super brilliant Ekure was the MD and NPA where the late man about town Henry Abebe was head
But Shell was tough. You cdnt even enter their office talkless of breaking anything.So i got Laolu’s email and sent him a passionate mail telling him why he needed my services if he was going to make a mark at Shell.
He replied and gave me an appointment and there started a beautiful friendship.
I watched him grow. Saw him aquire NISL and go into the Fast Food business with his partners as they opened Buka Hut all over the place.
He started supporting my plays and he will be calling me to ask if i wont come for sponsorship since his money was ‘small’.Then i stopped hearing from him. Calls where not returned but i didn’t mind since i could see that he was doing well.
They had just opened a new outlet at keffi and i was proud of him and his people
Then i went to eat Afang at the new Just Afang restaurant in Ikoyi beside his office and branched to ask him to join me.
He wasnt in the office and still didnt take my calls so i left him since i didnt even knw the cost of the Afang bf i go and shoot myself
So you can imagine my shock as i hear this story this morning. This last night o, Laolu jumped and left.Whatever has led to this, is really not worth it. But then again, people have different constitutions and mental aptitude
This is why we must be kind to each other. Reach out, call people ask after their well being
Much more importantly. If you have a problem, shout. Ask for help, seek advice. Dont be quiet shout.
If Buhari with all the problem of this country on his head is still seating comfortably in Aso rock with tootpick in his mouth, why would you now with your own small problem come and jump
This is really sad. Really really sad.
KaiMay his soul rest in peace.
A Chartered stockbroker and a Chartered Accountant with 12 years of experience in investment banking, corporate banking, stockbroking, asset management and pension fund management, 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 would later resign 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.
Until his death, he was the CEO of NISL.
