Gospel singer Tope Alabi has threatened legal action against Canada-based pastor Tayo Kumuyi, known online as Pastor Tayo Ministries, over alleged Facebook publications linking the Nigerian gospel star to the death of fellow minister Olayemi Bayonile Bolaji, popularly known as Toluwanisings, and other gospel ministers, according to a cease-and-desist letter dated 24 October 2026.

The letter, issued by Alabi’s solicitors, Oakmount Legal Practitioners, demands that the disputed publications be removed, the allegations retracted and an unreserved apology issued within 24 hours.

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The lawyers describe the notice as a final demand and warn that failure to comply could lead to court proceedings.

The dispute has drawn attention to the risks of circulating serious allegations on social media, particularly when the claims concern a death that has prompted grief and speculation within Nigeria’s gospel music community.

According to the legal notice, posts published between 20 and 24 October allegedly accused Alabi of involvement in murder and ritual killing.

The solicitors rejected the accusations and challenged the publisher to produce evidence supporting the claims.

“These statements accuse our client of murder and of ritual killing. There is no more serious allegation that can be made against a person, least of all a minister of the gospel. They are false in every particular,” the lawyers wrote.

The letter further states that the solicitors had seen no evidence of an investigation, police finding or court decision supporting the allegations.

These statements represent the position of Alabi’s legal team; the contents of the disputed Facebook posts and any independent evidence would need to be examined to establish the full circumstances.

Alabi’s representatives also said the singer had publicly and privately mourned Toluwanisings following the minister’s death and denied that she had any involvement in his death or the deaths of other individuals.

The solicitors accused the Facebook page operator of exploiting public grief and using the bereaved community’s distress to damage the singer’s reputation.

They argued that describing the accusations as spiritual revelations did not, by itself, place the publications beyond the reach of defamation law.

The legal notice also raised concerns about a subsequent post allegedly directed at Alabi after she issued a public warning against defamation on 23 October.

Quoting the post, the lawyers wrote: “Tope Alabi, no letter will save you from my hand. Your only option is leaving your hiding place.”

Alabi’s representatives described the statement as a threat of harm and said further publications after the initial warning could be presented as evidence in any future proceedings.

The allegation concerning the threat has not been independently established in the material available.

The lawyers have demanded the removal of the disputed posts, an end to further publication of the allegations and the withdrawal of any requests encouraging others to share the material.

They have also asked the recipient to preserve relevant evidence, including recordings, messages, drafts and available account records.

The requested apology would be published on the same Facebook page, pinned for 14 consecutive days and given prominence reasonably comparable to that of the original posts.

The solicitors have also asked the recipient to identify any factual basis for the allegations and clarify whether the claims have been reported to the Nigeria Police Force or another competent authority.

The letter lists possible legal responses, including claims for damages, court orders restricting further publication, recovery of legal costs, complaints to Meta Platforms and referrals of the alleged threats to law enforcement.

The notice does not establish that any of these proceedings have already commenced.

Although the alleged publisher is based in Canada, Alabi’s solicitors argue that the location does not automatically prevent legal action.

They contend that the material was published on a public platform in Yoruba and English, concerned a Nigerian public figure and reached an audience in Nigeria, where Alabi lives and works.

Whether a Nigerian court or another jurisdiction would have authority over a particular claim would depend on the applicable law, the evidence and the circumstances of publication.

The letter is the legal team’s position on the issue rather than a judicial determination.

The solicitors have also clarified that their demands are not intended to prevent legitimate reporting, lawful investigations or commentary protected by law.

That distinction is important in a dispute involving public figures, religious discourse and allegations of serious criminal conduct.

Toluwanisings, whose real name was Olayemi Bayonile Bolaji, died on 14 October 2026 at the age of 41.

His death has prompted tributes and discussion among gospel music audiences, but the legal notice does not establish a cause of death or provide independent evidence supporting the allegations against Alabi.

The controversy has also widened beyond the singer.

Nigerian comedians Ayobami Ajewole, popularly known as Woli Agba, and Olamide Oladimeji, known as Dele Omo Woli, have separately threatened legal action over online allegations linking them to Toluwanisings’ death.

In a notice dated 23 October, their solicitors, Gemgold Solicitors, rejected the claims and warned that people who originate, share or endorse defamatory material could face legal consequences.

The parallel dispute suggests that unverified claims surrounding the minister’s death have become a wider reputational concern for several figures in Nigeria’s entertainment and gospel communities.

For Alabi, the immediate demand is for the disputed material to be removed and publicly withdrawn.

Whether the dispute proceeds to court will depend on the response to the notice and any subsequent legal steps.

The case also serves as a reminder that religious language and claims of spiritual revelation do not automatically establish the truth of an accusation.

Serious allegations require credible evidence, while those reporting on such disputes must distinguish clearly between allegations, denials and established facts.

As the controversy develops, the central questions remain whether the disputed claims can be substantiated, whether the alleged threatening language warrants further investigation and whether the parties can resolve the matter without litigation.

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For now, Alabi’s solicitors have made their position clear: they are seeking a retraction and apology while reserving the singer’s right to pursue remedies available under the law.