Lawyers to gospel singer and evangelist Temitope Alabi have given the operators of the Facebook page Pastor Tayo Ministries 24 hours to remove publications accusing her of involvement in murder and ritual killing of late gospel singer Olayemi Bayonile Bolaji, popularly known as Toluwanisings.
The ultimatum was given on Saturday in a letter by Oakmount Legal Practitioners. The letter demanded a public retraction and apology, an end to further publications and the removal of copies of the allegations. The firm warned that it would take legal action if the demands were not met.
The letter was addressed to the person or persons operating the Facebook page, whose address was listed as Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Lawyers cite posts about ministers’ deaths
The lawyers said the disputed publications appeared between 20 and 24 October and on the Facebook page. They alleged that the posts accused Alabi of responsibility for the deaths of several ministers in the gospel music industry.
One of the publications reportedly linked her to the death of late gospel minister Toluwanisings who the letter said died suddenly the previous week.
The lawyers said the page operator accused Alabi of being a descendant of Jezebel and alleged that she used people for rituals to sustain her glory.
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The letter also cited claims that Alabi and her alleged accomplices refused to disclose the hospitals where Bayonile was taken. It said the page operator challenged the evangelist to swear during a live chat and invoked her death “within three days”.
Other publications allegedly declared that Alabi “HAD A HAND IN TIOLUWANISINGS DEATH” and that “GOD HAS REVEALED TOPE ALABI TO MANY BELIEVERS WHO ARE SCARED TO SHARE THE REVELATION”.
The lawyers said the page operator also asked readers to “SAY NO RITUAL KILLING” and share the posts about Bayonile’s death. They described the allegations as false and said no evidence, police findings, investigation or court decision supported them.
Oakmount Legal Practitioners said their client had publicly and privately mourned Bayonile and had no part in his death or that of any other person.
The firm also cited a public notice Alabi issued on 23 9ctober warning against defamation. It said the Facebook page published another post after that warning, including the words “TOPE ALABI, NO LETTER WILL SAVE YOU FROM MY HAND”.
The lawyers characterised that message as a threat of harm and said their client would rely on publications made after the notice as evidence of continued defamation.
Retraction, apology and possible court action
Oakmount Legal Practitioners demanded that the page operator remove the disputed posts, live videos and other publications under their control that repeated the allegations.
The firm also demanded an end to further publication, whether directly or through anyone acting on the operator’s behalf. It asked the operator to withdraw the request for others to share the posts and take reasonable steps to remove identifiable copies republished at their direction.
The lawyers further demanded that the operator stop making statements they consider threatening or harassing. They instructed the recipient to preserve relevant posts, recordings, messages, drafts and account records, warning that removing material from public view must not involve destroying or altering evidence.
The demand also requires an unreserved retraction and apology on the same Facebook page. The apology must remain pinned for 14 consecutive days and receive prominence reasonably equal to that of the original publications.
If the operator maintains any allegation, the lawyers demanded identification of the specific claims, their factual basis and supporting material. They also requested confirmation of whether the allegations had been reported to the Nigeria Police Force or another competent authority.
The firm warned that failure to comply within 24 hours could lead to court proceedings seeking declarations, orders to stop the publications, damages and legal costs. It also listed possible complaints to Meta Platforms and other relevant platforms, referrals to law enforcement and applications for lawful orders to identify those responsible.
The letter cited Sections 373, 374 and 375 of the Criminal Code and Section 24(2) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015, as amended. The lawyers maintained that presenting allegations as spiritual revelations would not automatically exempt them from the law.
WHAT READERS SHOULD KNOW
The letter is a legal demand issued on Alabi’s behalf, and its claims about the Facebook publications represent the position of her lawyers.
The 24-hour deadline requires the page operator to remove the disputed material and publish a retraction and apology. The lawyers also reserved their client’s right to seek damages and other remedies available under applicable law.
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