Evangelist Tope Alabi threatens legal action over defamatory posts
By Damilola Akinwale –
Gospel singer and evangelist Tope Alabi has threatened legal action against individuals who circulate defamatory statements about her, warning that the action could also extend to those who share such content.
The warning was contained in a public notice issued on Friday by her solicitors, Oakmount Legal Practitioners, following allegations by a self-acclaimed cleric, Pastor Tayo Ministries, who claimed on her social media pages that Alabi and other gospel artists were behind Toluwanisings’ death.
In the notice, Alabi said she had spent almost 30 years building her reputation locally and internationally, describing it as a valuable personal and professional asset protected by law.
The solicitors said false, misleading and injurious statements about their client had been published and circulated through print, broadcast, online platforms and word of mouth, warning that those responsible could be held liable.
“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,” the notice stated.
The notice urged those who had published the material to remove it and desist from further publication, warning that deleting a post would not automatically absolve the publisher of liability. It also stated that Alabi could seek court orders to identify anonymous users responsible for offending publications.
The solicitors said they had been instructed to institute proceedings against anyone whose conduct gave rise to an actionable claim, without further notice, while clarifying that the notice was not intended to restrict lawful expression on matters of public interest.
In her response on Saturday, Pastor Tayo Ministries issued a disclaimer, insisting that the pictures attached to the post were not hers. However, social media users questioned her claims, citing a purported live video she made before the notice was issued. Her claims had yet to be independently verified as of the time of filing this report.
