Filmmaker Seun Oloketuyi has called on the police to investigate members of the family of late Ibadan politician Lamidi Adedibu over alleged threats to his life, cyberbullying and criminal defamation linked to a film about the politician.
Oloketuyi made the request in a petition dated October 16 and addressed to the Inspector-General of Police, following an ongoing dispute with the Adedibu family over the biopic, Adedibu: Alagbara Ibadan.
The family had earlier accused the filmmakers of releasing the production without their consent and presenting misleading accounts of the late politician’s personal life and political activities. They demanded the removal of the film, a public apology and N500m in damages.
Responding to the demands, Oloketuyi’s lawyers maintained that the film was based on publicly available information about Adedibu. They also indicated their willingness to examine specific aspects of the production that the family disputed.
However, in a letter dated October 12, the family’s lawyers rejected the response, describing it as “condescending and legally flawed”.
They argued that the film infringed on the late politician’s privacy and contained false claims concerning his marriage, personal life and political career.
The family also alleged that the filmmaker had identified Adedibu’s wife, friends and associates in the production while making “false claims of insubordination and control, dishonesty and corruption”.
Their lawyers further accused Oloketuyi of defamation of living relatives, invasion of privacy, copyright infringement and unauthorised commercial use of the late politician’s personality.
The family gave the filmmaker 72 hours to take down the production, disclose the sources of the allegedly private information and provide YouTube analytics showing the revenue generated by the film.
They warned that failure to comply would lead to legal action at the Oyo State High Court, alongside complaints to the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) and the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC).
“We shall also file a counter-notification to YouTube attaching this reply showing your admission of using family photos,” the letter reads in part.
The lawyers also rejected Oloketuyi’s allegations of injurious falsehood, insisting that their client had not published false information about him.
“Your threats of injurious falsehood is laughable. Truth is our defence. We have not published anything false about your client. You published falsehood about ours for money,” the letter stated.
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Oloketuyi Alleges Threats Over Film
In his petition to the IGP, Oloketuyi accused Bose Adedibu and other members of the family of threatening him following the release of the biopic.
He alleged that he had received calls from private numbers warning that he would be harmed unless he removed the film. He also accused the family of using social media to label him a “thief, scammer, fraud and criminal”.
The filmmaker asked the police chief to direct the appropriate investigative units, including the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre and the Force Criminal Investigation Department, to investigate the allegations without delay.
“In view of the foregoing, we respectfully request that your office: treat this petition as a matter of urgency and direct the appropriate investigative unit, including the NPF National Cybercrime Centre and the Force Criminal Investigation Department, to receive it and commence investigation immediately,” the petition reads in part.
He also sought immediate protection, asking the police to take steps to safeguard his life and prevent further alleged threats.
“Take immediate and effective steps to protect our client’s life and safety, and to prevent any further threats against him,” the petition stated.
Oloketuyi further requested that Bose and other family members allegedly involved in the threats and online publications be invited for questioning.
“Invite the Suspect and every member of her family implicated in the threats and publications for questioning, and, where warranted, take such lawful measures as are necessary to secure their attendance,” the petition added.
He also urged the police to caution the individuals concerned against further alleged threats and publications branding him a fraudster, scammer, thief or criminal.
“Caution the Suspect and her family to cease forthwith all threats against our client and all publications branding him a fraud, scammer, thief or criminal,” the petition stated.
The dispute has continued to centre on the family’s objections to the film’s content and alleged use of private material, alongside Oloketuyi’s claims of intimidation and online harassment. The allegations contained in the petition and the family’s complaints have not been established as findings of a court.