Gospel singer Tope Alabi has threatened legal action against a Canada-based pastor, Tayo Kumuyi, popularly known as Pastor Tayo Ministries, over alleged defamatory publications linking her to the death of gospel minister Olayemi Bayonile Bolaji, known as Toluwanisings, and other ministers.
Alabi’s solicitors, Oakmount Legal Practitioners, issued a cease-and-desist letter dated October 24, demanding that the allegations be withdrawn and the publications removed from the pastor’s Facebook page.
Titled “Cease and Desist: Malicious and Defamatory Publications and Threats Against Our Client,” the letter gave Kumuyi 24 hours to remove the posts, publish a retraction and issue an apology.
According to the solicitors, publications made between October 20 and 24 allegedly accused Alabi of involvement in murder and ritual killings, including claims linking her to the deaths of several gospel ministers.
Describing the allegations as false, the lawyers challenged the publisher to provide evidence to substantiate them.
“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 also maintained that Alabi had publicly and privately mourned Toluwanisings following his death and had no involvement in his death or that of any other person.
They accused the Facebook page operator of exploiting public grief to damage the singer’s reputation, adding that the posts had attracted hundreds of reactions, comments and shares.
The lawyers further alleged that some comments beneath the publications indicated that readers were accepting the claims as true.
The letter also cited a subsequent post allegedly directed at Alabi after she issued a public notice warning against defamation on October 23.
Quoting the post, the solicitors wrote: “Tope Alabi, no letter will save you from my hand. Your only option is leaving your hiding place.”
They described the statement as a threat of harm, adding that publications made after the singer’s warning could be presented as evidence of alleged malice and an intention to continue the purported defamation.
On the legal implications, the solicitors argued that the allegations could constitute actionable libel because they imputed serious criminal conduct to their client and could damage her personal reputation, professional standing and ministry.
They also maintained that presenting the claims as spiritual revelations or religious opinions did not automatically exempt them from the requirements of the law.
Addressing Kumuyi’s reported residence in Canada, the lawyers argued that the location of the publisher did not necessarily prevent legal action, noting that the posts concerned a Nigerian public figure and were allegedly circulated among audiences in Nigeria, where Alabi lives and works.
Beyond demanding the removal of the publications, the solicitors directed Kumuyi to stop making or circulating the allegations, withdraw requests for others to share them and refrain from statements they considered threatening or harassing.
The lawyers also requested an unreserved retraction and apology on the same Facebook page, to remain pinned for 14 consecutive days and receive prominence comparable to that of the original posts.
But that is not all. The pastor was also asked to identify any evidence supporting the allegations and confirm whether they had been reported to the Nigeria Police Force or another competent authority.
The lawyers further directed the pastor to preserve all relevant evidence, including posts, recordings, messages, drafts and available account records, warning that removing the publications must not involve destroying or altering evidence.
Failure to comply within 24 hours, the letter warned, could prompt court proceedings seeking declaratory and injunctive relief, damages and legal costs. The solicitors also listed possible complaints to Meta Platforms and referrals of the alleged threats to law enforcement.
Alabi’s lawyers, however, clarified that their demands were not intended to prevent truthful reporting, lawful investigations or legitimate commentary protected by law.
The letter was signed by Toluwanimi Okunade of Oakmount Legal Practitioners on behalf of the singer.
Toluwanisings died on October 14, 2026, aged 41. Alabi had publicly expressed grief over the gospel minister’s death.
