Ondo commissioner sues APC leaders over ‘governor’s mummy’ remark

Omowunmi Isaac, Ondo State Commissioner for Finance, and her brother, Kunle Odide, have filed a libel suit against 35 leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

The suit was instituted at the Ondo State High Court in Akure, the state capital.

During proceedings on Tuesday, Yemi Fasanmi, the presiding judge, awarded N100,000 in costs against each claimant in favour of each of the 35 respondents following an application to amend defects in the originating court processes.

The respondents also indicated their intention to file preliminary objections challenging the jurisdiction of the court and the competence of the suit.

The case was adjourned until October 8, 2026, for further hearing.

The defendants are from the same local government area as the claimants.

How the dispute started

Speaking with journalists after the proceedings, Adekola Olawoye, a former attorney-general of Ondo State who is representing himself and some of the respondents, said the defendants are willing to explore an out-of-court settlement.

Olawoye, who is the first respondent in the suit, said the dispute arose from a letter he wrote to the national chairman of the APC.

He described the letter as a legitimate communication made in his capacity as a party member, adding that it was privately addressed to the party leadership and was not intended for public circulation.

According to him, the claimants petitioned the inspector-general of police (IGP), after which the respondents were invited to Abuja in March 2025.

Olawoye said the police neither detained nor prosecuted them following the invitation, adding that efforts had been made to resolve the dispute.

Olaoluwa Imoru, counsel to the claimants, said the suit was filed over an allegedly defamatory publication authored by the respondents and published in the Nigerian Tribune on February 2, 2026.

Imoru said one of the statements in the publication referred to the commissioner as the “mummy” of Lucky Aiyedatiwa, governor of Ondo State.

According to the lawyer, the description falsely portrayed the commissioner as wielding undue influence over the governor.

He said the claimants are asking the court to declare the publication defamatory and award aggravated, special and general damages over the alleged damage to their reputation.

The claimants are also seeking a public retraction of the publication and an apology.