Commissioner sues Ondo APC leaders for describing her as ‘governor’s mummy’

Omowunmi Isaac, the commissioner for finance in Ondo, 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 filed at the Ondo state high court in Akure, the state capital.

During the court 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 interest to file preliminary objections challenging the court’s jurisdiction and the competence of the suit.

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

The defendants are from the same LGA with the claimants.

HOW THE DISPUTE STARTED

Speaking with journalists after the court proceedings, Adekola Olawoye, a former Ondo attorney-general (AG) who is representing himself and some of the respondents, said the respondents are ready to explore out-of-court settlement.

Olawoye, the first respondent in the suit, said the dispute started from a letter he wrote to the national chairman of the APC, which, according to him, was a legitimate communication made in his capacity as a party member.

The former AG said the letter was privately addressed to the party leadership and was never intended for public circulation.

Olawoye said the claimants had petitioned the inspector-general of police (IGP), following which the respondents were invited to Abuja in March 2025.

He said the police neither detained nor prosecuted them after the invitation, adding that efforts have been made to resolve the dispute

Also speaking, Olaoluwa Imoru, counsel to the claimants, said the suit was instituted over an alleged 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 described the commissioner as “mummy” of Lucky Aiyedatiwa, governor of Ondo state.

The counsel said 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 for the alleged injury to their reputation.

Imoru said the claimants are equally seeking a public retraction and apology. (TheCable)