By Ayobami Ife, Abeokuta
An Ogun State High Court sitting in Abeokuta has ordered Gbegande of Ososa in Odogbolu Local Government Area, Oba Adetoye Alatishe, to pay a prominent industrialist, philanthropist and indigen of Ososa, Dr. Sulaiman Adegunwa, the sum of N500million.
The N500million in damages was awarded against Oba Alatishe, Russia – trained Physician and former chairman of Ijebu Ode Local Government Area, for libelling Sulaiman Adegunwa, who is the Asiwaju of Ijebuland.
The state court Presided over by Justice E.O. Osinuga, also ordered the traditional ruler to publish an apology and a retraction in three national newspapers—Punch, ThisDay, and The Nation—for a malicious petition and publication in City People Magazine on January 15, 2019, and Obanta Newsday on August 7, 2019.
According to Vanguard News, giving his judgment on Friday, April 11, 2025, Justice Osinuga held that the content of the petition and its subsequent publications were defamatory and had caused serious harm to the claimant’s well-earned reputation.
In addition to the ₦500 million in damages, the court also awarded ₦500,000 in litigation costs and granted a perpetual injunction restraining Oba Alatishe from further defaming Dr. Adegunwa, who holds the national honor of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) and the title of Asiwaju of Ijebuland.
The libel suit, with case number 4CJ/205/19, was filed on November 25, 2019, following a letter allegedly written by the monarch to then-Governor Ibikunle Amosun on January 7, 2019. In the letter, Oba Alatishe accused Dr. Adegunwa of threatening to demolish the newly reconstructed Gbengande Market and convert the land into a palace, while also allegedly planning to turn the existing palace into a town hall.
The petition, which was also circulated to several state government officials, including the Commissioners for Local Government and Urban Planning, and the Police Commissioner, claimed the alleged actions posed a risk of breaching public peace in the community.
Despite attempts at amicable resolution through legal counsel, Oba Alatishe reportedly refused to issue an apology or retract the claims, prompting Dr. Adegunwa to seek redress in court.
In court, Oba Alatishe admitted under cross-examination that his allegations were based on hearsay. Justice Osinuga noted:
“When Kabiyesi was asked how he came about the information, he said some people told him—yet he was unwilling to name them.”
The court held that it was reckless and unjustifiable for the monarch to make such serious allegations without evidence and faulted his refusal to apologise.
The judge submitted that a clear case of defamation had been established and gave order in favor of the claimant.
– Vanguard.
