The Nigerian social establishment was, on Monday, September
4, 2017, thrown into palpable sorrow, following the death of tax Amazon,
Olanike Disu.
Tragically too, Disu died barely 24 hours after celebrating her birthday.
Disu, who was fondly called Madam Tax, was a director at the Lagos
Inland Revenue Service, LIRS. She was also the chairman of the 2018
Annual Tax Committee (ATC). She was also an Assistant Director with the
Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). In 2015, Disu, was tipped to
become the Chairman of LIRS, following the appointment of Tunde Fowler
as Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) by President
Mohammadu Buhari.
More shocking is the fact that Disu’s death occurred barely a month
after that of her husband, who was reported to have slumped and died few
weeks ago.
Family sources disclosed that Disu had battled Breast Cancer for many
years. Sources disclosed that she braved the illness and had shown
considerable signs of improvement this year. However, sources revealed
her husband’s death might have taken a toll on her health, and she
finally succumbed to the dreaded illness on Monday.
It was gathered that Disu had been confronted by many tragedies in
the last few years. Two years ago, precisely on 12 October, 2015, her
brother-in-law, Mr. Tajudeen Disu, the Managing Director of the Lekki
Free Trade Zone, was shot dead during a clash between mobile police
officers and youth of Okunraiye community.
Few months after, her father, Pa. Elkanah Olatunji Kobnah Williams died and was given a befitting burial in Lagos.
Disu was still smarting from this loss when her husband suddenly died.
Confirming her death, the members of Council, Management and
Secretariat of the Chartered Institute of Taxation Of Nigeria issued an
official statement, announcing the tragic incident. The statement reads
thus; “We announce the unfortunate demise of a member of the Executive
Committee of Council, Mrs Olanike Disu, FCTI, which occurred on
September 4, 2017. She was the Chairman of the 2018 Annual Tax Committee
(ATC). She was also an Assistant Director with the Federal Inland
Revenue Service (FIRS) until her death. We pray that God will comfort
her family and the CITN family, and grant them the fortitude to bear the
irreparable loss.”
Disu is survived by two children – Omoyeni and Ayomide, an aged
mother, many siblings, among whom are Olatunde Williams and Ronke
Adewale.
Notable among some of her friends are Yetunde Sebanjo, Rosa
Vera-Cruz, Pat Faniran, Tolu Sadipe, Tunde Bank-Anthony and many others.