UNILAG VC threatens N1bn defamation suit over report alleging financial irregularities
UNILAG VC threatens N1bn defamation suit over report alleging financial irregularities
Folasade Ogunsola, vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), has threatened to sue NaijaOnPoint for N1 billion over a report alleging financial irregularities involving university staff.
The report, titled “Citadel of Criminals: Under VC Folasade Ogunsola, UNILAG Staff Pocketed N397million In Irregular Payments While N434million In Cash Advances Went Unretired”, alleged that university staff received N397.5 million in irregular payments, while N434.79 million in cash advances remained unretired.
It also alleged that N355.61 million in payments lacked supporting documents, N178.02 million was paid as unapproved staff allowances, and N121.71 million in store items could not be accounted for.
Other alleged irregularities included N116.37 million in payments that violated the federal government’s e-payment policy and N82.93 million in cash advances exceeding approved limits.
Ogunsola, through her solicitor, Taiwo Osipitan, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), rejected the publication’s portrayal of her as responsible for the alleged financial infractions.
In a letter dated October 29, 2026, the lawyers said the report associated their client with the alleged irregularities and attributed direct responsibility to her for financial infractions allegedly committed by unidentified university staff.
According to the letter, the headline and content conveyed the impression that Ogunsola “presides over and condones the misappropriation of public funds”.
The lawyer further said the publication created the false impression that their client was “a fraudulent and dishonest Chief Executive who also presides over the affairs of a University that is populated by criminals”.
Ogunsola denied any involvement in the alleged financial impropriety, saying she had neither engaged in, authorised, participated in nor knowingly facilitated criminal conduct.
“For avoidance of doubt, our Client does not object to legitimate investigative journalism, fair comment or responsible reporting on matters of public interest,” the letter read.
“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.
“Our Client categorically denies allegations or insinuations of having been engaged in, authorized, participated in, or knowingly facilitating criminal conduct and/ financial impropriety.
“Our Client maintains that the publication is materially false, misleading, malicious and gravely injurious to her personal and professional reputation.”
They demanded that NaijaOnPoint remove the report from its website and social media platforms, publish an unequivocal retraction and apology with prominence comparable to the original publication, and undertake not to republish the allegations.
The lawyers also asked the publication to provide a written undertaking that it would take corrective measures to prevent further circulation of the claims.
The lawyers gave NaijaOnPoint 48 hours from receipt of the letter to comply with the demands, warning that failure to do so would prompt legal action and a referral to the appropriate law enforcement agency.
The proposed suit seeks N500 million in general damages and another N500 million in exemplary damages over the alleged defamation.
Ogunsola’s lawyers are also seeking a declaration that the publication is defamatory, an order directing NaijaOnPoint to remove the article and a perpetual injunction restraining the platform from further publishing the allegedly defamatory statements.
