Gospel singer Tope Alabi has signalled her readiness to seek legal redress against individuals accused of spreading false or defamatory claims about her, cautioning that those who share or circulate such material on social media could also face legal consequences.
In a notice dated Friday, October 23, 2026, her lawyers, Oakmount Legal Practitioners, said they had received instructions to pursue legal action against anyone whose publications or conduct gave rise to a legally enforceable claim. The firm warned that liability could extend to both the original publishers and others who help spread the alleged defamatory content.
Alabi shared the notice on her Instagram page. The document described her as a gospel minister, recording artist, songwriter, actress and public figure of national and international repute, noting that she had spent almost three decades building her professional and personal reputation.
According to the notice, her reputation remains a significant asset deserving legal protection.
“Reputation is a valuable personal and professional asset, and it is protected by law,” the solicitors stated.
The law firm said it had become aware 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”.
It warned that individuals who publish such statements without lawful justification could be held personally liable, regardless of the medium through which the alleged defamatory material is disseminated.
The notice explained that the potential liability covered both written and spoken communications, including social media posts, photographs, videos, audio recordings, interviews, podcasts, livestreams and voice notes.
It stated: “That 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.”
The solicitors also cautioned social media users against assuming that liability rests exclusively with the person who originated a statement. According to the notice, individuals who repeat, republish, forward or otherwise circulate potentially defamatory material could also face legal consequences, depending on the circumstances and any applicable legal defences.
“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 firm stated.
The notice further warned that operating behind anonymous, pseudonymous or unverified accounts would not automatically shield individuals from legal proceedings.
“The use of anonymous, pseudonymous or unverified accounts does not, of itself, confer immunity from legal liability,” the solicitors said.
The firm added that Alabi reserved the right to seek court orders, where legally permissible, to establish the identities of individuals responsible for offending publications. Such efforts, it noted, could involve relevant social media platforms, website hosts or service providers.
Individuals who had already published the material were directed to remove it immediately and refrain from further dissemination.
“Any person who has already published such material is hereby required to remove the same forthwith and to desist from any further publication,” the notice stated.
However, the solicitors cautioned that deleting a post would not necessarily eliminate liability arising from its earlier publication.
The firm said it had received instructions to institute legal proceedings against anyone whose conduct amounted to an actionable claim, potentially without further notice.
Among the remedies listed in the notice were general damages and, where legally available and justified, aggravated or exemplary damages. Alabi could also seek injunctions to prevent further publication, court orders compelling a retraction and an unreserved public apology, as well as recovery of legal costs on a full indemnity basis.
The solicitors further stated that their client reserved the right to pursue all remedies available under Nigerian law and refer appropriate cases to relevant authorities.
Despite the firm’s strong warning, the notice clarified that it was not intended to suppress legitimate public discussion or restrict lawful freedom of expression.
“Nothing in this Notice is intended to restrict truthful statements, fair comment on matters of public interest, or the lawful exercise of the right to freedom of expression guaranteed by law,” it stated.
The warning comes amid online controversy surrounding Alabi’s reported comments on traditional religious practices and renewed public discussion of her past association with the late cleric Elijah Ajanaku.
However, the legal notice did not identify the specific publications, statements or allegations that prompted the singer to issue the warning. It also did not name any individual against whom legal action was being contemplated.