Nigerian gospel singer Tope Alabi has warned social media users against making or sharing statements she considers defamatory, threatening legal action against those who damage her reputation through false claims.
The singer issued the warning in a public notice released by her lawyers, Oakmount Legal Practitioners, and shared on her Instagram page on Friday, October 23, 2026.
According to the notice, the gospel singer, whose full name is Evangelist Patricia Temitope Alabi, has instructed her legal team to take necessary steps to protect her personal, professional and spiritual reputation from potentially damaging publications.
Her lawyers noted that Alabi had spent nearly three decades building a reputation founded on integrity, honour and public trust, warning that she would not take attempts to undermine that reputation lightly.
The legal team also stressed that individuals who share or circulate allegedly defamatory content could face legal consequences, even if they were not responsible for creating the original post.
Social media users were further cautioned against believing that anonymous or pseudonymous accounts would shield them from legal action.
The notice stated, “The use of anonymous, pseudonymous or unverified accounts does not, of itself, confer immunity from legal liability.”
Those who have already published content considered defamatory were advised to take it down and avoid spreading it further. However, the lawyers clarified that removing a post would not automatically eliminate any potential liability arising from its earlier publication.
The notice also outlined possible legal remedies the singer could pursue, including damages, injunctions, retractions, public apologies and recovery of legal costs.
Despite the strong warning, Alabi’s lawyers clarified that the notice was not intended to prevent people from expressing legitimate opinions or engaging in fair criticism.
They emphasised that truthful statements and lawful freedom of expression remained protected, particularly when discussing issues of public interest.
The notice stated, “Nothing in this Notice is intended to restrict truthful statements, fair comment on matters of public interest, or the lawful exercise of the right to freedom of expression guaranteed by law.”
The legal team did not name any specific individuals who might face legal proceedings.
The warning serves as a reminder that social media users may face legal consequences for publishing or circulating defamatory material, including content originally created by others.
