Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to online news platform NaijaOnPoint to retract a report linking her administration to alleged financial irregularities at the university.
Ogunsola is demanding N1 billion in damages over the publication, which alleged that UNILAG staff received N397 million in irregular payments while N434 million in cash advances remained unretired.
Through her solicitors, Bayo Osipitan & Co., the Vice-Chancellor described the report as false, misleading, malicious and damaging to her personal and professional reputation.
The disputed publication, titled “Citadel of Criminals: Under VC Folashade Ogunsola, UNILAG Staff Pocketed N397million In Irregular Payments While N434million In Cash Advances Went Unretired,” was reportedly published on NaijaOnPoint’s website and circulated on its X and LinkedIn accounts.
According to the legal notice, the figures cited in the publication were attributed to alleged findings from an audit of UNILAG’s 2024 finances.
Other figures reported included N355.61 million in payments without supporting documents, N178.02 million in allegedly unapproved staff allowances, N121.71 million in store items that could not be properly accounted for, N116.37 million in payments said to have breached the Federal Government’s e-payment policy and N82.93 million in cash advances allegedly above approved limits.
Ogunsola’s lawyers, however, argued that the publication wrongly associated the Vice-Chancellor personally with alleged financial infractions involving university employees.
They said the report created the impression that Ogunsola was a dishonest administrator who presided over and condoned the misappropriation of public funds.
The legal team said the publication further portrayed her as “a fraudulent and dishonest Chief Executive who also presides over the affairs of a University that is populated by criminals.”
Ogunsola, according to the lawyers, categorically denied engaging in, authorising, participating in or knowingly facilitating any criminal conduct or financial impropriety.
“Our Client categorically denies allegations or insinuations of having been engaged in, authorised, participated in, or knowingly facilitating criminal conduct and/or financial impropriety,” the lawyers said.
The solicitors acknowledged the legitimate role of investigative journalism and public scrutiny of government-funded institutions but argued that allegations should not be presented as established facts without adequate verification.
They consequently demanded the immediate removal of the report from NaijaOnPoint’s website and all social media platforms under its control.
The lawyers also demanded an unequivocal retraction and public apology to Ogunsola, with prominence and visibility comparable to the original publication.
NaijaOnPoint was further asked to provide a written undertaking not to republish or reproduce the allegations and to take corrective measures to prevent their further circulation.
Failure to comply within 48 hours of receiving the letter, the lawyers warned, would result in civil proceedings against the publisher and other persons considered responsible for the publication.
They also indicated that the matter could be referred to the appropriate law enforcement agency.
Ogunsola is seeking N500 million in general damages and another N500 million in exemplary damages, bringing the total claim to N1 billion.
Her proposed legal action would also seek a declaration that the publication was defamatory, an order compelling its removal and a perpetual injunction restraining further publication of the disputed allegations.
