Prince Isaac Owolabi Fayose, the younger brother to the erstwhile Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, has slammed a defamation lawsuit on Mr. Lere Olayinka, a former media aide to ex-Governor Fayose and a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Olayinka, who currently serves as the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, is embroiled in the allegation of putting out false and malicious statements about Fayose on social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and X.
The lawsuit, marked FCT/HC/GAR//2025, was filed in a Federal High Court in Abuja.
In a Facebook post, Olayinka said, “Before I leave for other important engagements, let me advise Prince Isaac Fayose to take the issues of his health, especially his internal organs, very seriously.
“When you smoke weed (Igbo) and sniff certain things, you need regular medical checkup rather than masturbating about Wike, who is in his house after doing his jobs till late yesterday. And be mindful of NDLEA abeg. It is just an advise.”
Isaac Fayose in the manner characteristic of him quickly responded, vowing to take legal action over Olayinka’s post and insisting that Olayinka must provide evidence to support his wild claims.
In his filed lawsuit, Fayose is seeking multiple reliefs from the court, including a declaration that the statements were defamatory, an order compelling Olayinka to issue a written apology, and the payment of damages and legal costs totaling over N200 billion.
Additionally, Fayose is requesting a perpetual injunction barring Olayinka and his associates from making further defamatory statements against him.
According to the court document, Fayose claims that “the written statement made by the Defendant to the entire world through his handle on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, X and other social media platforms are false and malicious hence a slanderous allegation against the Claimant’s person.”
He further asserts that “the said written statement made by the Defendant to the hearing of the entire world is damaging to the Claimant’s image, reputation and person.”
As part of his demands, Fayose is asking the court to order Olayinka to publish a written apology in This Day, Sun, and The Guardian newspapers.
Additionally, he is seeking ₦50 billion in exemplary damages, another ₦50 billion in special damages, and ₦100 billion in general damages for emotional distress and loss of reputation.
The claimant also requests an order for Olayinka to pay ₦20 million as legal fees incurred in filing the suit.
The court has ordered the defendant to enter an appearance within eight days of being served the writ. Failure to comply may result in judgment being issued in his absence.
It further stated that the defendant may enter an appearance either personally or through a legal practitioner by submitting the required forms—either in person at the Registry of the Judicial Division where the case is filed or via registered post.
The claims against the defendant as follows: “A declaration that the written statement made by the Defendant to entire world through his handle on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, X and other social media platforms are false and malicious hence a slanderous allegation against the Claimant’s person.
“A declaration that the said written statement made by the Defendant to the hearing of the entire world is damaging to the Claimant’s image, reputation and person.
“An order of this honourable court directing the Defendant to tender a written apology to the Claimant and same to be published in three national dailies which are This Day News Paper, Sun Newspaper and The Guardian Newspaper.
“A declaration that the said written statement made by the Defendant to the hearing of the entire world is damaging to the Claimant’s image, reputation and person.
“An order of this honourable court directing the Defendant to tender a written apology to the Claimant and same to be published in three national dailies which are This Day News Paper, Sun Newspaper and The Guardian Newspaper.
“An order of Perpetual Injunction the Defendant, his agents, friends and privies from further carrying the false statement against the Claimant by any medium.
“An order of this honourable court directing the Defendant to pay the Claimant N50,000,000,000.00 the (Fifty sum Billion Naira) only as the award for Exemplary Damages in this matter.
“An order of this honourable court directing the Defendant to pay the Claimant the sum N50,000,000, 000.00 (Fifty Billion Naira) only as the award for Special Damages in this matter.
“An order of this honourable court directing the Defendant to pay the Claimant the sum N100,000,000.00 (One Hundred Billion Naira) only as the award for General Damages for injury, embarrassment, and emotional distress suffered by the Claimant in respect of loss of reputation, image and or goodwill resulting from the malicious, false, unwarranted Damages for injury, embarrassment, and emotional distress suffered by the Claimant in respect of loss of reputation, image and or goodwill resulting from the malicious, false, unwarranted, unsubstantiated and defamatory oral statement against the persons of the claimant.
“An order of this Honorable Court directing the Defendant to pay the Claimant the sum of N20, 000, 000.00 (Twenty Million Naira) only as the award for the cost of legal/bill of charges incurred by the Claimant for instituting this suit.
“And for such further order(s) as this Honorable Court may deem fit to make in the Circumstances.”
