The political dispute between Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke’s campaign spokesman, Pelumi Olajengbesi, and Senator Francis Fadahunsi has taken a legal turn, with Olajengbesi threatening to institute a ₦10 billion defamation suit against the lawmaker.

Olajengbesi, through his lawyer, Hammed Lasisi, accused Fadahunsi of making false and damaging statements about him during television interviews. He has demanded a retraction and an unreserved public apology within 24 hours, warning that failure to comply would trigger legal action.

Key Facts

• The threatened suit concerns statements allegedly made by Fadahunsi during interviews on Viable TV and Channels Television.
• Olajengbesi’s lawyer said the remarks questioned his client’s origin and allegedly linked him to political thuggery and the Eiye and Aye cult groups.
• The lawyer also disputed an allegation concerning the late Ajayi Aderogba, popularly known as Rogba.
• Olajengbesi has denied financing, sponsoring or supporting any cult group or authorising attacks or intimidation.
• His lawyer is demanding a withdrawal of the statements, a public apology and ₦10 billion in general and aggravated damages if the demands are not met.

The supplied letter, dated August 12, 2026, was addressed to Fadahunsi through his lawyer and set a 24-hour deadline for compliance.

The dispute centres on statements attributed to the senator during two separate television appearances.

Timeline of Events

The first incident cited by Olajengbesi’s lawyer allegedly occurred on July 2 during a live interview broadcast by Viable TV. According to the letter, the comments were subsequently circulated on social media platforms.

Fadahunsi was alleged to have questioned Olajengbesi’s origin, with the senator reportedly saying that the campaign spokesman was “not even from the same Ijebu-Jesha” and was “from somewhere in Ogun State.”

The letter further alleged that Fadahunsi accused Olajengbesi of “using thugs, Eiye and Aye.”

The second incident allegedly occurred on August 11 during Fadahunsi’s appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

According to the letter, the senator was discussing the late Ajayi Aderogba, also known as Rogba, when he allegedly linked the deceased to Olajengbesi and referred to alleged activities involving Eiye and Aye.

A day later, on August 12, Olajengbesi’s lawyer issued the letter demanding that Fadahunsi retract the disputed statements and apologise publicly.

The lawyer warned that failure to meet the demand within 24 hours would result in legal proceedings.

What They Said

One of the statements attributed to Fadahunsi concerned Olajengbesi’s identity and alleged political activities.

The lawyer’s letter quoted the senator as saying that Olajengbesi was “not even from the same Ijebu-Jesha” and was “from somewhere in Ogun State.”

The letter also quoted Fadahunsi as saying that Olajengbesi was involved in “using thugs, Eiye and Aye.”

On the second television appearance, Fadahunsi was quoted 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’s lawyer argued that the statements conveyed the impression that his client financed, supported or deployed members of the alleged cult groups to intimidate or terrorise members of the public.

The lawyer described the allegations as particularly serious because, in his view, they suggested criminal conduct.

Stakeholder Positions

Olajengbesi has rejected the allegations and described them as false and damaging to his personal, professional and political reputation.

His lawyer said the campaign spokesman had never financed, sponsored or supported any cult group and had never authorised anyone to attack, intimidate or terrorise members of the public on his behalf.

The lawyer further argued that the allegations were incompatible with Olajengbesi’s position as a legal practitioner, public figure and candidate for elective office.

Fadahunsi’s statements, as reproduced in the lawyer’s letter, represent the basis of the allegations against him. However, the supplied material does not contain a separate response from the senator or his legal representatives to the threatened ₦10 billion action.

The immediate dispute, therefore, remains centred on the competing positions: Olajengbesi’s denial and demand for a retraction on one side, and the statements attributed to Fadahunsi on the other.

Legal Perspective

The threatened action, according to Olajengbesi’s lawyer, would centre on alleged defamation and injurious falsehood.

The lawyer’s position is that the disputed statements damaged Olajengbesi’s reputation by allegedly associating him with cult groups, thuggery and acts of intimidation.

The demand made in the letter is for the statements to be withdrawn through the same media platforms where they were allegedly made. The lawyer is also seeking an unreserved public apology through national and social media channels.

The letter further states that, if Fadahunsi fails to comply within the 24-hour period, Olajengbesi would pursue legal proceedings and seek ₦10 billion in general and aggravated damages.

At this stage, however, the supplied material establishes a threatened legal action rather than a court judgment or determination of liability. The allegations and the senator’s reported statements remain matters at the centre of the threatened dispute.

Current Situation

The matter currently stands at the demand stage.

Olajengbesi’s lawyer has formally communicated the campaign spokesman’s objections to Fadahunsi and given the senator 24 hours to retract the disputed remarks and issue an apology.

The lawyer has also indicated that failure to comply would lead to legal proceedings seeking ₦10 billion in damages.

No information in the supplied material confirms that the threatened lawsuit has already been filed.

The position of Fadahunsi or his legal team following receipt of the letter is also not provided.

What’s Next?

The immediate next step is the expiration of the 24-hour deadline contained in Olajengbesi’s lawyer’s letter.

If Fadahunsi complies with the demands, the dispute could move toward a withdrawal and apology. If he does not, Olajengbesi’s lawyer has stated that legal proceedings would follow.

Any subsequent filing would establish whether the threatened action has formally moved from a demand for retraction into a court process.

Until such a development occurs, the central issues remain the disputed statements, Olajengbesi’s denial and the legal demands contained in the August 12 letter.

Final Editorial Wrap-Up

The dispute between Pelumi Olajengbesi and Senator Francis Fadahunsi has moved beyond political exchanges, with a formal legal threat now hanging over the allegations made during the senator’s television appearances.

Olajengbesi maintains that the statements falsely linked him to cult groups, thuggery and intimidation, while his lawyer has demanded a retraction, public apology and ₦10 billion in damages if the demands are not met.

For now, the matter remains at the pre-litigation stage based on the information supplied. The next significant development will depend on whether Fadahunsi responds to the demands within the stated timeframe or whether the threatened legal action is commenced.