Court Orders Oba Alatishe to Pay N500 Million for Libel Against Industrialist Dr. Sulaiman Adegunwa
csrreporters 
Abeokuta High Court, presided over by Justice E.O. Osinuga, has ordered Oba Adetoye Alatishe, the Gbengande of Ososa in Ijebuland, Ogun State, to pay N500 million in damages for libel against prominent industrialist and philanthropist, Dr. Sulaiman Adegunwa.
The court also directed the monarch to issue a public apology and retract his defamatory statements in three national newspapers: Punch, ThisDay, and The Nation. The libelous claims had previously appeared in City People Magazine (January 15, 2019) and Obanta Newsday (August 7, 2019). Additionally, the court awarded N500,000 for litigation costs and issued a perpetual injunction restraining Oba Alatishe from further maligning Dr. Adegunwa’s reputation.
Justice Osinuga stated that the monarch’s petition and publications were damaging to Dr. Adegunwa’s well-earned reputation as a nationally recognized leader, industrialist, and philanthropist, who holds the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) and the title of Asiwaju of Ijebuland.
The case, filed on November 25, 2019, arose from a petition Oba Alatishe reportedly sent to then Governor Ibikunle Amosun and several state commissioners, alleging that Dr. Adegunwa had threatened to demolish the reconstructed Gbengande Market to build a palace and convert the existing palace into a town hall. The monarch claimed that failure to check this threat could lead to a breach of peace in the community.
Dr. Adegunwa initially sought an apology and retraction through legal counsel, but Oba Alatishe refused, prompting the industrialist to pursue legal redress. Justice Osinuga noted that the monarch relied solely on hearsay and could not substantiate his claims. She ruled that the libel case was firmly established and in favor of the Claimant.
The ruling underscores the importance of evidence based accusations and serves as a cautionary reminder against defaming individuals without proof, particularly those of high public standing