Woli Agba, Tope Alabi threaten legal action over Toluwanisings’ death claims

They described the claims as false and damaging.

Gospel entertainers Ayobami “Woli Agba” Ajewole, Olamide “Dele Omo Woli” Oladimeji and singer Tope Alabi have threatened to take legal action against people spreading allegations linking them to the death of fellow gospel minister Olayemi “Toluwanisings” Bolaji.

The entertainers, in public notices issued by their lawyers and posted on their Instagram pages, condemned what they described as “false and defamatory allegations” and warned those responsible to desist.

Dele Omo Woli and Woli Agba, in a joint notice issued on Sunday and signed by Oluwatosin Ige and Olaife Ajewole of Gemgold Solicitors, said the allegations were baseless and aimed at damaging the entertainers’ reputations.

The lawyers said the claims could subject their clients to public ridicule and fuel hostility against them.

They warned that anyone who started, circulated, or amplified the allegations risked legal action, whether they used personal accounts or anonymous profiles to spread the claims.

“We state categorically that these allegations, particularly those falsely associating our clients with the demise of Toluwanisings, are entirely false, unsubstantiated, and unfounded.

“For the avoidance of doubt, members of the public are reminded that the law does not exempt individuals who re-share, forward, or amplify defamatory content created by anonymous or untraceable accounts. Anyone who originates, publishes, forwards, or endorses defamatory material is equally liable under the law”, said the lawyers.

The lawyers urged members of the public to stop circulating unverified allegations against the entertainers, warning against the reckless spread of claims that could damage their reputations.

They further called out those promoting the allegations and demanded that they remove any defamatory posts they had already shared on their social media pages, blogs and other platforms.

The solicitors noted, “Refrain from publishing, sharing, or circulating false, misleading, or unverified allegations concerning Ayobami Ajewole (Woli Agba) and Dele Omo Woli. Desist from reposting, forwarding, or commenting in endorsement of any online material carrying these defamatory statements.

“Immediately remove any such defamatory content previously posted or shared on personal, blog, or social media pages.”

The lawyers warned that anyone who ignored their demands and continued to spread the allegations would face legal consequences. They said their clients reserved the right to take action against both individuals and media platforms involved.

“Our clients reserve all legal rights. Any individual, blog, media platform, or social media user who continues to publish, re-circulate, or broadcast false and defamatory content against our Clients will face swift legal action, including claims for substantial damages and injunctive relief under applicable civil and criminal laws.

“This notice is issued in the interest of justice, responsible public communication, and the protection of individual dignity. Members of the public are urged to exercise restraint, verify information before sharing, and act within the bounds of the law.”

Meanwhile, Alabi issued a stern warning to those sharing the disputed content online, making it clear they could be held legally accountable.

In a notice issued on Saturday by her solicitor, Toluwanimi Okunade of Oakmount Legal Practitioners, the singer directed him to explore legal remedies against individuals whose actions could form the basis of actionable claims.

Mr Okunade said Alabi had built a reputation as a gospel minister, recording artist, songwriter, actress and public figure with national and international standing.

He added that the singer had spent nearly 30 years building her career and reputation, insisting that her “reputation is a valuable personal and professional asset, and it is protected by law”.

The lawyer noted, “That reputation is a valuable personal and professional asset, and it is protected by law. It has come to our client’s attention that false, misleading and injurious statements concerning her have been, and may continue to be, published and circulated to the public, whether in print, broadcast, online or by word of mouth;

“Any person who, without lawful justification, publishes or causes to be published, whether in writing, in print, through images, videos, audio, electronic or social media posts, or any other permanent form (libel), or by spoken words, broadcasts, interviews, podcasts, live streams, voice notes or any other transient form (slander), any statement concerning our client which is false, malicious or calculated to injure her reputation, shall be held personally liable for such publication.”

Mr Okunade warned that the law could catch up with anyone who published the statements without lawful justification.

He said those who circulated the material or helped spread it would also be liable, alongside the original creators.

“That liability may extend, inter alia, to the originator of the statement and to any person who repeats, republishes, reposts, shares, forwards or otherwise amplifies the same, depending on the circumstances of the publication and any applicable legal defences. That the use of anonymous, pseudonymous or unverified accounts does not, of itself, confer immunity from legal liability.

“Where necessary and legally permissible, our client reserves the right to seek appropriate orders from a court of competent jurisdiction for the identification of persons responsible for the offending publications, including through relevant platforms, hosts or service providers. That any person who has already published such material is hereby required to remove the same forthwith and to desist from any further publication”, said the lawyer.

Mr Okunade warned social media users not to assume anonymous accounts give them a free pass to break the law.

He directed those who published the defamatory material to pull it down immediately and stop circulating it.

He stressed that deleting the posts would not save them from legal liability for what they had already put out.

“That our client has instructed us to institute proceedings against any person whose conduct gives rise to an actionable claim, without further notice or recourse, and to seek, inter alia: (a) general, and, where legally available and justified, aggravated or exemplary damages; (b) injunctions restraining further publication of the offending material or any similar material.

“(C) an order compelling the publication of a retraction and an unreserved public apology; (d) the costs of the action on a full indemnity basis; and (e) such further or other reliefs as the court may deem fit to grant. That our client reserves the right to pursue all such remedies as may be available under the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and to refer appropriate cases to the relevant authorities.