Adedibu Biopic: Producer petitions IGP over alleged death threats, cyberbullying as family demands film’s removal

Tensions over the biographical film “Adedibu: Alagbara Ibadan” have intensified following a police petition by its producer over alleged death threats, cyberbullying, cyberstalking, among others.

The development follows demands by the family of late Ibadan politician Lamidi Adedibu regarding the YouTube film. The disagreement began after the family accused Seun Oloketuyi and his production team of misrepresenting Adedibu’s life and career.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that the family sought N500 million in damages, claiming that the filmmaker neither obtained their consent nor avoided allegedly false and harmful depictions of the politician.

Mr Oloketuyi, who produced the movie through Ultimate Communications, and director Abiodun Jimoh, dismissed the claims. He maintained that the film relied on publicly available information and refused to pull it from circulation.

Petition

Mr Oloketuyi has now petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Olatunji Disu over alleged threats to his life.

In the petition, dated 16 October and submitted through his lawyer, Ememabasi Umoeka of ASALAW LP, the filmmaker named Bose Adedibu as a suspect and called for an investigation into the alleged involvement of other family members.

He accused Ms Bose and some relatives of threatening his life, asking the police chief’s office to give the complaint urgent attention.

Mr Umoeka said: “Our client has received various telephone calls threatening his life from the suspect and other members of her family. Our client receives calls from private numbers who threaten to harm him if he does not take the film down.

“The suspect and her cohorts have continually taken to social media platforms, where our client’s name and the film are publicly labelled as “fake,” a “thief,” a “scammer” and a “fraud,”. The suspect further goes so far as to call our client a criminal. In light of these threats, our client fears for his life, especially because of the life-threatening calls related to the film which he has received from the suspects and private numbers.”

Threat to life

Mr Umoeka said Mr Oloketuyi’s safety was at risk, alleging that the suspect and members of her family had threatened his life. He maintained that Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, guarantees his client’s right to life.

He explained that threatening another person’s life constitutes a serious criminal offence under the Criminal Code Act and relevant state laws.

Mr Umoeka further noted that threats made through electronic communication could attract additional legal consequences under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015, as amended.

He said the law prohibits electronic messages used to bully, threaten or harass others in ways that cause them to fear death, violence or physical harm.

According to the lawyer, the calls the suspect and her family members allegedly made to his client fall within the scope of these legal provisions. He insisted that the threats should not be treated as empty statements or dismissed without proper consideration.

“A threat to life must be investigated and answered before it is acted upon. Section 24 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 (as amended) criminalises the use of computer systems and networks to send or publish messages that are grossly offensive, menacing or known to be false, to cause insult, injury, ill will or needless anxiety to another, and to bully, threaten or harass.

“By repeatedly posting our client’s name and the Film on social media platforms and branding him a scammer, thief and fraud, the Suspect has engaged in a sustained and deliberate course of online harassment. The persistent and public nature of these posts, and their obvious purpose to humiliate our client, to turn the public against him and to expose him to hatred and ridicule, are the very mischief the Act was passed to punish”, said Mr Umoeka.

Criminal defamation

According to Mr Umoeka, Ms Bose and her relatives damaged Mr Oloketuyi’s reputation by openly describing him as a “thief”, “scammer”, “fraud” and “criminal”.

He argued that the remarks amounted to allegations of criminal conduct and dishonesty that could undermine Mr Oloketuyi’s professional standing, livelihood and public image.

Mr Umoeka also cited Sections 373, 375 and 376 of the Criminal Code Act, which deal with defamatory publications, including statements published with the knowledge that they are false.

He noted, “These accusations were not made in a private letter or to the competent authorities. They were published on public platforms to an unlimited audience. Our client denies them, and nothing the suspect has published justifies them. The right to freedom of expression under section 39 of the Constitution is subject to the laws that protect the rights and reputation of others, as section 45(1)(b) makes plain. It is not a license to publish false accusations of crime.

“Threatening telephone calls coupled with a continuing public campaign of accusation against our client, by the suspect and members of her family, are conduct likely to provoke a breach of the peace. The danger is real. Unless the Police intervene promptly, the escalation which has already moved from mere words to threats against our client’s life may result in violence.”

Demands

Mr Umoeka disclosed that his client had called on the IGP to expedite action on the petition and instruct the relevant police units, particularly the NPF National Cybercrime Centre and the Force Criminal Investigation Department, to begin investigating the allegations without delay.

He said his client had also requested immediate security measures to safeguard his life and prevent further threats.

The lawyer added that his client wanted the suspect and every family member allegedly involved in the threats and publications to be invited for questioning. He further urged the police to use lawful means to secure their attendance if necessary.

“Under section 4 of the Police Act 2020, the Nigeria Police Force is charged with preventing and detecting crime, protecting life and property and enforcing the law. Our client has done everything a law-abiding citizen can do. He has retained solicitors and has now come to the Police.

“Where a person’s life is under threat, delay is itself a danger, and we respectfully state that this petition requires immediate action and not routine processing. We place on record that, should any harm befall our Client, the Suspect and the members of her family who have participated in these threats shall be held responsible.”

According to Mr Umoeka, his client wants the IGP to direct the suspect and her relatives to immediately halt all alleged threats against him and stop circulating claims portraying him as a fraudster, scammer, thief or criminal.

He said Mr Oloketuyi remained willing to cooperate with investigators and would submit relevant screenshots, electronic links, telephone records and other materials that could aid the probe.

“Where the investigation discloses reasonable grounds to suspect the commission of any offence, charge and prosecute the persons responsible, or refer the case to the competent prosecuting authority, in accordance with the law. We trust that your office will give this petition the immediate attention which a threat to life demands.”

Family kicks

Meanwhile, the family has threatened to institute legal proceedings against Mr Oloketuyi, accusing him of refusing to take down the controversial film despite its objections.

The family’s lawyers, Blossom Chambers, conveyed the position in a letter signed by Babatunde Akinola and sent to the producer’s legal team, with the IGP copied. The letter, dated 12 October, stated that the film’s continued availability further established the basis for the family’s legal action.

According to the family, the proposed suit will address alleged defamation of the living family, false light and invasion of privacy under the Constitution and the NDPA 2023.

The family also intends to pursue claims of copyright infringement relating to private family life, the deliberate infliction of emotional distress on the deceased’s aged wife or wives and children, and the unauthorised commercial exploitation of the family’s identity for financial gain.

“You also claim no private information was published, which to us is a blatant lie, from the pit of hell, i.e., using statements of various categories in a manner that he manipulated various political elections, candidates to his selfish advantage, dealing with persons in a manner that is bereft of his personal life etc.—creating room to use double standards to malign the system and using it to his advantage.

“Suppressing the system of Government in Oyo State. Coveting people’s rights to vote for a new set of persons to government as a godfather for his own gain. Interfering in the political process and individual rights and freedoms for his own personal gain and use. Oppressive regimes and false claims by elected government officials. His childhood and growing up were not as they were. Causing the general public to believe that he was using tricks and antics to gain control and power over candidates and contestants for election manipulations”, they said.

Demands

The family also issued Mr Oloketuyi a 72-hour ultimatum to take down the film and provide a full account of its YouTube earnings from 3 October.

“Pull down the video and provide YouTube analytics showing revenue earned. Disclose the source of private life information.

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“Give an account of how the private life information was retrieved by cyberbullyingyour client,” the family said.

The family said it would approach the Oyo State High Court if its demands remained unmet. It also said it plans to lodge complaints with the NDPC over alleged breaches of the NDPA and with the Nigerian Copyright Commission over alleged criminal infringement of copyright.

It further stated that it would send a counter-notification to YouTube, including the response in which Mr Oloketuyi allegedly acknowledged using photographs belonging to the family.

“Your threats of injurious falsehood are laughable. Truth is our defence. We have not published anything false about your client. You published falsehoods about us for money.”

Backstory

The film has recorded 822,000 views on YouTube. Veteran actor Lere Paimo plays Adedibu in the film, which the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) classified and approved.

The production also features Adekola Tijani, Taiwo Ibikunle, Segun Arinze, Afeez Oyetoro, Anike Ami, Shushu Abubakar and Kayode Olaiya.

Mr Oloketuyi first announced the project in 2022, saying he wanted to document the stories of influential Nigerians and safeguard records of the country’s political past.

Adedibu, who died on 11 June 2008, wielded considerable political power in Oyo State. His influence and controversial reputation earned him the nickname “strongman of Ibadan politics”.

He played a significant role in shaping political battles and strengthening the PDP’s political machinery in Oyo State, making him an enduring figure in the country’s political narrative.