Nigerian gospel singer Tope Alabi has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to Canada-based pastor Tayo Kumuyi, demanding the withdrawal of social media allegations linking her to the death of fellow gospel minister Toluwanisings or face possible legal action.
The ultimatum was contained in a cease-and-desist letter dated October 24, 2026, issued by Alabi’s solicitors, Oakmount Legal Practitioners.
The letter reportedly identified Kumuyi as the operator of the Facebook page Pastor Tayo Ministries and demanded that posts containing the disputed allegations be removed, retracted and followed by a public apology.
According to the legal notice, publications made between October 20 and 24 allegedly accused Alabi of involvement in murder and ritual killings, including claims linking her to Toluwanisings’ death.
Toluwanisings, whose real name was Olayemi Bayonile Bolaji, died on October 14, 2026, at the age of 41.
Alabi’s lawyers strongly rejected the allegations, describing them as false and challenging the publisher to provide evidence supporting the claims.
They maintained that no police investigation, court finding or other official determination had established Alabi’s involvement in the singer’s death.
The solicitors also said Alabi had publicly and privately mourned Toluwanisings following his passing, insisting that she had no involvement in his death or the deaths of other gospel ministers.
The legal dispute reportedly escalated after Alabi issued a public notice on October 23 warning against the publication or circulation of statements she considered false and defamatory.
Her solicitors subsequently cited another post allegedly directed at the singer after the earlier notice was issued.
The lawyers characterised the reported statement as threatening and said it could form part of the evidence if the matter proceeded to court. The wording and circumstances surrounding the alleged message were presented in the solicitors’ account and were not independently established through a court finding.
In the cease-and-desist letter, Alabi’s legal team demanded that the disputed publications be removed and that further circulation of the allegations stop.
The solicitors also requested an unreserved public retraction and apology on the same Facebook page, to remain pinned for 14 consecutive days.
They asked Kumuyi to disclose the factual basis for any allegations he intended to maintain and to clarify whether the claims had been reported to the Nigeria Police Force or another competent authority.
The letter further directed the recipient to preserve relevant evidence, including posts, recordings, messages and other records connected with the dispute.
Alabi’s lawyers warned that failure to comply within 24 hours could lead to legal proceedings seeking remedies that may include damages, injunctions and legal costs.
They also identified possible complaints to Meta Platforms, the company that operates Facebook, and referrals of the alleged threatening statements to law enforcement.
The legal team argued that the pastor’s reported residence in Canada would not automatically prevent Alabi from pursuing available legal remedies, given that the disputed publications allegedly concerned a Nigerian public figure and reached audiences in Nigeria.
However, the demands remain those of Alabi’s legal representatives. The issuance of a cease-and-desist letter does not itself establish liability, and the allegations against the singer have not been established by a court.
The status of any lawsuit and whether Kumuyi complied with the 24-hour demand were not confirmed in the information available.
The dispute comes amid public mourning following Toluwanisings’ death and growing scrutiny of serious accusations circulated through social media.
The case highlights the potential legal consequences of publishing unverified allegations of criminal conduct, particularly when they concern identifiable individuals and can cause reputational harm.
It also underscores the distinction between reporting allegations as allegations and presenting them as established facts.
Alabi’s legal team said its demands were not intended to prevent truthful reporting, lawful investigation or legitimate commentary protected by law.