Adeleke's team plans ₦10bn lawsuit against Osun senator over defamation claim

Campaign spokesman for Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, Pelumi Olajengbesi, has threatened to file a ₦10bn lawsuit against Francis Fadahunsi, the senator for Osun East. He claims Fadahunsi made false statements that hurt his reputation.

In a letter dated August 12, 2026, Olajengbesi's lawyer, Hammed Lasisi, addressed the senator. Olajengbesi said statements made by Fadahunsi during interviews on Viable TV on July 2, 2026, and Channels Television’s Politics Today on August 11, 2026, were damaging.

Olajengbesi is demanding that Fadahunsi retract his statements and issue a clear public apology within 24 hours. If not, he will take legal action.

The letter stated, “On 2nd July 2026, our Client’s attention was drawn to a live interview granted by you and aired on Viable TV, which was subsequently reproduced, republished and widely disseminated through Facebook, TikTok, WhatsApp, X, Instagram and other social and digital media platforms.

“During the said interview, you launched a direct attack on the identity, character and reputation of our Client by stating, among other things, that our Client was ‘not even from the same Ijebu-Jesha’ and was ‘from somewhere in Ogun State.’ You further accused him of ‘using thugs, Eiye and Aye.’

“These statements directly questioned our Client’s identity and origin as a son of Ijebu-Jesa and, more gravely, imputed that he sponsors, associates with and/or deploys thugs and members of the Eiye and Aye cult groups in furtherance of his political activities.

“Again, on 11th August 2026, during your live appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, you made another direct statement concerning our Client while commenting on the late Ajayi Aderogba, also known as Rogba, to wit: ‘Rogba is an Eiye man sponsored by Barr. Olajengbesi terrorising the whole … my own territory up and down through all these Eiye and Aye.’

“The natural, ordinary and unmistakable meaning conveyed by the above statement is that our Client sponsors, finances, supports and/or patronises members of the Eiye and Aye cult groups and deploys them to terrorise members of the public.”

Olajengbesi firmly denied these claims, stating they are false and harmful to his personal, professional and political reputation.

He said, “The allegation of sponsoring cultists and persons engaged in acts of terror is particularly serious, as it imputes criminality and conduct wholly incompatible with our Client’s standing as a legal practitioner, public figure and candidate for elective office.

“Olajengbesi said he has never sponsored, financed, supported, patronised or otherwise provided resources to any cult group or its members for criminal, political or other unlawful activities. Neither has he authorised any person to terrorise, intimidate or attack members of the public on his behalf.”

Olajengbesi's demand is for Fadahunsi to retract the statements through the same media used to spread them. He wants a clear and public apology through major national media and social media platforms.

His lawyer warned that if Fadahunsi does not comply within 24 hours, he will take the matter to court. He seeks ₦10,000,000,000 as damages for defamation and harmful falsehood.