UNILAG VC threatens N1bn suit over alleged financial impropriety report

By Henry Ojelu

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos , UNILAG, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, has threatened to institute a N1 billion defamation suit against online publication, NaijaOnPoint, over a report alleging that university staff received N397 million in irregular payments while N434 million in cash advances remained unretired.

Ogunsola, through her solicitors, Bayo Osipitan and Co., described the publication as false, misleading, malicious and injurious to her personal and professional reputation.

In a letter dated October 29, 2026, addressed to the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of NaijaOnPoint/NOP Media Ltd, the law firm gave the media organisation 48 hours to remove the report from its website and social media platforms, publish a retraction and apology, and undertake not to republish the allegations.

The report, titled, “Citadel of Criminals: Under VC Folashade Ogunsola, UNILAG Staff Pocketed N397million In Irregular Payments While N434million In Cash Advances Went Unretired,” was published on the organisation’s website, X account and LinkedIn page.

The law firm said the publication associated their client with allegations of substantial financial irregularities at the university and attributed direct responsibility to her for alleged financial infractions by unidentified staff.

According to the firm, the headline and content conveyed the impression that Ogunsola presided over and condoned the misappropriation of public funds.

It said the publication was designed to create the impression that the Vice-Chancellor was dishonest and presided over a university populated by criminals.

It said, “Our Client categorically denies allegations or insinuations of having been engaged in, authorised, participated in, or knowingly facilitating criminal conduct and/or financial impropriety.

“Our Client maintains that the publication is materially false, misleading, malicious and gravely injurious to her personal and professional reputation.”

The law firm said its client did not object to legitimate investigative journalism, fair comment or responsible reporting on matters of public interest, but took exception to what it described as baseless allegations and unverified conclusions presented as established facts.

It stated: “Our Client does not object to legitimate investigative journalism, fair comment or responsible reporting on matters of public interest. However, our Client takes serious exception to baseless allegations and unverified conclusions (as established facts) which unjustifiably injures her well earned and richly deserved reputation.”

Citing Nigerian law, the firm argued that publishing false and unverified statements capable of lowering a person’s standing in the estimation of right-thinking members of society could constitute actionable libel.

It also cited Section 24 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, as amended, in warning of possible criminal consequences.

The law firm emanded the immediate removal of the disputed report from all platforms under the organisation’s control, an unequivocal retraction and apology with prominence comparable to the original publication, and a written undertaking not to reproduce or circulate the allegations.

It warned that failure to comply within the stipulated 48 hours would leave their client with no alternative but to institute legal proceedings against the company and individuals responsible for the publication.

The law firm also threatened to refer the matter to the appropriate law enforcement agency for investigation and possible prosecution.

The proposed suit, according to the letter, would seek N500 million as general damages and another N500 million as exemplary damages.

Other reliefs include a declaration that the publication was defamatory and maliciously injurious, an order compelling its removal from the website and social media platforms, and a perpetual injunction restraining further publication of the allegations.