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Filmmaker Seun Oloketuyi has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, seeking an investigation into members of the family of late Ibadan politician Lamidi Adedibu over alleged threats to his life, cyberbullying and criminal defamation.
The petition, dated October 16, follows an ongoing dispute between Oloketuyi and the Adedibu family over the biopic, Adedibu: Alagbara Ibadan.
The family had 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 that the film be removed, a public apology issued and N500m paid in damages.
In response, Oloketuyi’s lawyers maintained that the production was based on publicly available information about Adedibu and expressed willingness to examine specific aspects of the film challenged by the family.
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 violated the late politician’s privacy and contained false claims about his marriage, personal life and political career.
The family also alleged that the production identified Adedibu’s wife, friends and associates while making what they described as “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 remove the film, disclose the sources of the allegedly private information and provide YouTube analytics showing the revenue generated by the production.
They warned that failure to comply would prompt legal action at the Oyo State High Court, alongside complaints to the Nigeria Data Protection Commission and the Nigerian Copyright Commission.
“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 dismissed 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.
Oloketuyi Alleges Threats Over Biopic
In his petition to the police chief, Oloketuyi accused Bose Adedibu and other family members of threatening him following the release of the film.
He alleged that he received calls from private numbers warning that he would be harmed unless he removed the production.
The filmmaker also accused the family of using social media to describe him as a “thief, scammer, fraud and criminal”.
He asked the IGP 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.
Oloketuyi also requested immediate protection, asking the police to take measures 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.
Filmmaker Seeks Questioning Of Family Members
The filmmaker further asked the police to invite Bose and other family members allegedly involved in the threats and online publications 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 those concerned against further alleged threats and publications describing him as 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 remains centred 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 made by both sides have not been established as findings of a court.
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