The camp of Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has threatened to sue Senator Francis Fadahunsi for ₦10 billion over alleged defamatory statements against the governor’s campaign spokesman, Pelumi Olajengbesi.
Olajengbesi, through his lawyer, Hammed Lasisi, demanded that Fadahunsi withdraw the statements and issue a public apology within 24 hours.
The demand was contained in a letter dated August 12, 2026, and addressed to the senator representing Osun East Senatorial District.
The lawyer said the proposed legal action would be based on alleged “defamation and injurious falsehood.”
According to the letter, the dispute arose from comments allegedly made by Fadahunsi during two separate television appearances.
The first was an interview broadcast by Viable TV on July 2, 2026. The second was an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday.
Olajengbesi’s lawyer said the remarks were subsequently circulated across social media platforms, including Facebook, TikTok, WhatsApp, X and Instagram.
Lasisi argued that the comments had damaged the reputation of his client and created a false impression about his identity, character and political activities.
The letter read in part, “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.’”
The lawyer maintained that the statements questioned Olajengbesi’s claim to being an indigene of Ijebu-Jesa and also allegedly linked him to unlawful activities.
He said the allegations were especially serious because they portrayed his client as someone who sponsors or supports criminal elements for political purposes.
The legal threat was renewed following Fadahunsi’s appearance on Politics Today on Tuesday.
The letter alleged that the senator made another statement about Olajengbesi while discussing the late Ajayi Aderogba, popularly known as Rogba.
It quoted Fadahunsi as saying, “Rogba is an Eiye man sponsored by Barr. Olajengbesi terrorising the whole … my own territory up and down through all these Eiye and Aye.”
Olajengbesi rejected the allegation.
His lawyer said the claim amounted to an accusation of criminal conduct and could have serious consequences for his personal and professional reputation.
“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,” the letter stated.
Olajengbesi also denied ever sponsoring or supporting any group for criminal or political purposes.
“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.”
He further stated that he had never authorised anyone to intimidate, attack or terrorise members of the public on his behalf.
The demand issued to Fadahunsi requires the senator to retract the alleged defamatory statements through the same channels where they were made or circulated.
Olajengbesi also wants an unreserved public apology published through appropriate national media outlets and social media platforms.
The letter gave Fadahunsi 24 hours to comply with the demands.
Failure to do so, the lawyer warned, would result in legal proceedings seeking ₦10 billion in general and aggravated damages.
The proposed suit comes at a politically sensitive period in Osun State, with the August 15 governorship election only days away.
Olajengbesi is a prominent member of Adeleke’s political camp and has been active in the governor’s re-election campaign. He has also been involved in political mobilisation in the Ijesa axis of the state.
Earlier in July, Adeleke joined Olajengbesi at Ijebu-Jesa for the launch of the Imole Canvassers’ Group.
The initiative was designed to mobilise supporters ahead of the governorship election.
In June, Adeleke called for the redeployment of the Osun Commissioner of Police, citing concerns about the neutrality of the command ahead of the election.
The governor had also repeatedly appealed to security agencies to prevent violence during the campaign period.
Political parties and their supporters have continued to accuse one another of activities capable of disrupting the electoral process.
The allegations have been denied by the affected parties, while security agencies have been urged to investigate reported incidents and maintain peace across the state.
Fadahunsi has not, as of the time of this report, publicly responded to the ₦10 billion legal demand.
