Pelumi Olajengbesi, spokesman for Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re-election campaign, has threatened to institute a ₦10 billion defamation suit against Senator Francis Fadahunsi over alleged defamatory statements.

Olajengbesi, through his lawyer, Hammed Lasisi, Esq., issued the threat in a letter dated August 12, 2026, demanding that the senator retract the statements and issue an unequivocal public apology within 24 hours.

The lawyer said the statements were made by Fadahunsi during television interviews on Viable TV on July 2 and Channels Television’s Politics Today on August 11.

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According to the letter, Fadahunsi allegedly questioned Olajengbesi’s identity and origin, stating that he was “not even from the same Ijebu-Jesha” and was “from somewhere in Ogun State.”

The senator also allegedly accused the campaign spokesman of “using thugs, Eiye and Aye.”

Olajengbesi’s lawyer argued that the remarks suggested that his client sponsored, associated with or deployed thugs and members of the Eiye and Aye cult groups for political activities.

The letter further cited Fadahunsi’s appearance on Politics Today, where he allegedly said of the late Ajayi Aderogba, popularly known as Rogba: “Rogba is an Eiye man sponsored by Barr. Olajengbesi terrorising the whole … my own territory up and down through all these Eiye and Aye.”

Olajengbesi denied the allegations, describing them as false, defamatory and injurious to his personal, professional and political reputation.

He maintained that he had never sponsored, financed, supported or patronised any cult group or its members for criminal, political or unlawful activities.

He also denied authorising anyone to terrorise, intimidate or attack members of the public on his behalf.

According to his lawyer, the allegation of sponsoring cultists and persons involved in acts of terror amounted to an accusation of criminal conduct and was particularly damaging to Olajengbesi as a legal practitioner and public figure.

The campaign spokesman has therefore demanded that Fadahunsi retract the alleged defamatory statements through the same media and social media platforms where they were published or disseminated.

He also demanded an “unequivocal and unreserved public apology” through appropriate national and social media platforms.

The lawyer warned that failure to comply within 24 hours would prompt Olajengbesi to approach the court to seek ₦10 billion in general and aggravated damages for defamation and injurious falsehood.

The dispute comes amid heightened political activities ahead of the 2026 Osun governorship election.

At least 44 people have died after an overcrowded ferry capsized on Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba, with authorities continuing the search for possible survivors and missing passengers.

The ferry, operated by the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency, overturned on Tuesday while carrying 114 adult passengers, five crew members and an unspecified number of children.

According to Zimbabwe’s Civil Protection Unit, the vessel had a capacity of 90 people, indicating that it was carrying more passengers than its stated limit.

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Authorities initially reported that 77 people had been rescued and 15 bodies recovered. However, the Zimbabwe Republic Police later announced on Wednesday that the death toll had risen to 44.

“The ZRP informs the public that the death toll in the Kariba RIDA boat accident is now 44,” the police said in a statement posted on X.

A witness, Maxton Kanhema, told AFP that the ferry had departed in bad weather and may have been hit by a strong wave, causing its engines to switch off.

He said rescuers responded after a distress signal was seen and that bodies could be seen in the water.

“People were in distress… There were bodies in the water, and it was a sad situation to witness. Those that could be rescued were rescued,” Kanhema said.

A national park provided a helicopter to support the rescue operation, while larger boats, local divers and soldiers also joined the search.

The Civil Protection Unit said a specialised aquatic rescue team had been airlifted to the area. The 77 rescued passengers were taken to Long Island, located in the middle of the lake.

Two funeral parlours were also engaged to collect the recovered bodies as the search continued for anyone still unaccounted for.

The ferry serves communities between the northern town of Kariba and several islands and fishing villages around Lake Kariba.

Lake Kariba, which lies along the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, is more than 300 kilometres northeast of Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare. It is the world’s largest man-made lake by volume.

The incident is one of the worst recorded passenger boat disasters on Lake Kariba.

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has dispelled recruitment rumours, cautioning the public against fake and AI-generated employment letters being circulated in its name.

It went further to issue a caveat against fraudsters allegedly demanding money from unsuspecting members of the public under the guise of helping them secure jobs at the NUPRC.

The warning was contained in a statement issued by the NUPRC Head of Media and Corporate Communications, Eniola Akinkuotu, on X on Tuesday.

According to the commission, it had received reports of fake employment letters bearing the names of people unknown to the organisation.

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It also said some criminal elements had been extorting money from members of the public by falsely claiming to have connections that could secure employment at the commission.

The NUPRC said it had reported the activities of the suspected fraudsters to law enforcement agencies for investigation.

The commission urged members of the public to exercise caution and verify any employment-related information before taking action or making payments.

“The NUPRC wishes to inform the general public about the proliferation of fake and AI-generated employment letters bearing the names of persons unknown to the Commission,” the statement said.

The commission added that reports had also reached it that “some unscrupulous and criminal elements have been extorting money from unsuspecting members of the public under the pretext of helping them to secure employment at the Commission.”

The NUPRC said the activities of the suspected fraudsters had been reported to law enforcement agencies, with the commission awaiting the outcome of the investigation.

It, however, stated categorically that there was currently no recruitment exercise ongoing at the commission.

“The NUPRC states categorically that there is no ongoing recruitment exercise at the Commission,” it said.

The commission further explained that whenever it decides to recruit, the process would be conducted in accordance with applicable laws and government regulations.

“However, when the Commission does decide to recruit, it will be done strictly in line with the extant laws and government regulations,” it added.

The NUPRC therefore advised job seekers and other members of the public to be wary of individuals requesting money or presenting questionable employment documents purportedly issued by the commission.