“Ooni’s Estranged Wife Seeks Retraction, Public Apology Over Misleading Video”

Naomi Silekunola Ogunwusi, the estranged wife of the Ooni of Ife, has issued a formal demand for a public apology and retraction from Olufunke Ayokunle, a content creator and gospel musician, after she circulated an old video of Naomi dancing. The video, originally recorded in 2022, was shared on January 16, 2025, and falsely presented as recent, just days after Naomi’s release on bail in connection with the tragic December 18, 2024, stampede in Ibadan that resulted in the deaths of 35 children.

Naomi’s legal team, led by Joseph Adeola Lukman and Musibau Adetunbi, SAN & Co., accused Ayokunle of acting with malicious intent, causing significant harm to Naomi’s reputation. The video quickly went viral, sparking public backlash, and was interpreted by some influential figures, including APC chieftain Joe Igbokwe and journalist Reuben Abati, as an indication of Naomi’s callousness toward the victims’ families.

“The reposted video has generated widespread outcry, with many wrongly assuming it is a recent recording, leading to negative comments about our client’s character,” the legal team stated in a formal letter. “This video has created a false impression that Naomi is indifferent to the tragic loss of life.”

In the letter, Naomi’s legal team clarified that the video was recorded over two years ago and had no connection to the recent events. They emphasized that Ayokunle, despite knowing the video’s original date, reposted it in a deliberate attempt to cause harm. Naomi explained that she had not made any social media appearances since her release on bail, especially as one of the bail conditions prohibited her from interacting with the press or public on the matter.

The legal team demanded that Ayokunle immediately retract the video, issue a public apology, and pay N50 million in damages within seven days. They warned that failure to comply would lead to legal action.

“We request the immediate retraction of the video, a public disclaimer to clarify the video’s original recording date, a public apology, and a cessation of any further use of Naomi’s images or videos without her consent,” the letter stated. The lawyers also warned that they would pursue legal action for cyberstalking, cyberbullying, and other claims if Ayokunle failed to meet the demands.

Naomi’s legal team expressed hope that Ayokunle would heed their demands, urging her to avoid further legal complications by rectifying the situation swiftly.