Tope Alabi threatens legal action against Canada-based pastor over Toluwanisings’ death

Gospel singer Tope Alabi has threatened legal action against a Canada-based cleric, Pastor Tayo Kumuyi, over alleged defamatory publications linking her to the death of fellow gospel singer Toluwanisings and other ministers.

Alabi’s solicitors, Oakmount Legal Practitioners, in a cease-and-desist letter dated October 24, 2026, demanded that Kumuyi remove and retract the disputed publications, issue a public apology and comply with other demands within 24 hours.

The letter, titled “Cease and Desist: Malicious and Defamatory Publications and Threats Against Our Client,” accused the operator of the Facebook page, Pastor Tayo Ministries, of publishing the allegations between October 20 and 24.

According to the solicitors, the publications accused Alabi of involvement in murder and ritual killings, including alleged links to the deaths of several gospel ministers.

Dismissing the claims as false, the lawyers said the allegations were grave and potentially damaging to their client’s reputation, professional standing and ministry.

“These statements accuse our client of murder and of ritual killing. There is no more serious allegation that can be made against a person, least of all a minister of the gospel. They are false in every particular,” the letter stated.

The solicitors challenged Kumuyi to provide evidence to substantiate the claims, adding that, to their knowledge, no police investigation or court decision had linked Alabi to the deaths.

They maintained that the singer mourned Toluwanisings, whose real name was Olayemi Bayonile Bolaji, both privately and publicly, and had no involvement in his death or that of any other person.

The lawyers also accused the cleric of exploiting public grief over the singer’s death to attack their client, insisting that describing the allegations as spiritual revelations would not shield them from legal scrutiny.

They said the posts had attracted hundreds of reactions, comments and shares, with some social media users apparently believing the allegations.

The letter further cited a post allegedly directed at Alabi after she issued a public notice against defamation on October 23.

It quoted the post as saying: “Tope Alabi, no letter will save you from my hand. Your only option is leaving your hiding place.”

The solicitors described the statement as a threat of harm and evidence, in their view, of continued harassment of their client.

They argued that the publications could constitute libel and expose the publisher to legal liability, adding that presenting accusations as religious opinions did not automatically place them beyond the reach of the law.

On jurisdiction, the lawyers contended that Kumuyi’s alleged residence in Canada would not, by itself, prevent legal action, because the publications concerned a Nigerian public figure and were reportedly accessible, read and shared in Nigeria.

Among other demands, the solicitors requested the immediate removal of the disputed posts, an end to further allegations and the withdrawal of any calls encouraging others to share the material.

They also demanded that relevant evidence, including posts, recordings, messages and account records, be preserved.

The lawyers further sought a retraction and apology to be published on the same Facebook page and pinned for 14 days, with prominence equivalent to that given to the original publications.

They requested details of the factual basis for the allegations and confirmation of whether the claims had been reported to the police or any other relevant authority.

The letter, signed by Toluwanimi Okunade of Oakmount Legal Practitioners, warned that failure to comply within 24 hours could lead to court proceedings seeking damages and injunctions, applications for interim relief, complaints to Meta Platforms and referral of the alleged threats to law enforcement.

The solicitors said Alabi reserved the right to pursue general, aggravated or exemplary damages, legal costs and any other remedies available to her.

They, however, clarified that the demands were not intended to prevent legitimate journalism, lawful investigations or commentary protected by law.

Toluwanisings died on October 14, 2026, aged 41.

As of the date of the solicitors’ letter, the allegations against Alabi remained disputed, with no court finding cited in the letter establishing the claims.

There was no response from Kumuyi contained in the material available for this report.

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