……Abuja magistrate gives Zone 7 police two weeks to investigate complaint as pressure mounts on senator ahead of Osun election
By Rejoice Peterside
An Abuja Magistrate Court has ordered the police to investigate Senator Francis Fadahunsi over comments attributed to him in a viral video and reportedly interpreted as a call for violence against members and supporters of the Accord Party ahead of the Osun State governorship election.
The Presiding Magistrate II, Farida Ibrahim, directed the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 7, Abuja, to investigate the criminal complaint against Fadahunsi and submit its report to the court within two weeks.
The directive was contained in a letter dated August 13, 2026, signed by the Registrar of the Magistrate Court, Abdulraham Yusuf. The letter, titled “Direct Criminal Complaint Between Pelumi Olajengbesi and Senator Francis Fadahunsi,” was issued pursuant to Section 89(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, and accompanied by a copy of the criminal complaint for necessary police action.
The complaint was filed by Pelumi Olajengbesi, campaign spokesman for Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, after a video allegedly showing Fadahunsi making remarks interpreted as a call for the killing of members and supporters of the Accord Party circulated online.
The allegation has attracted significant attention because of the tense political atmosphere in Osun ahead of the August 15 governorship election, with concerns mounting over inflammatory political statements and their potential impact on peace and public safety during the poll.
Fadahunsi, who represents Osun East Senatorial District and is a member of the All Progressives Congress, had previously been summoned by the Osun State Police Command over the alleged remarks. He was reportedly questioned for about two hours on Wednesday as authorities examined the circumstances surrounding the viral video.
The latest court directive means the allegation will now be subjected to a formal police investigation by Zone 7, with the investigating authorities required to submit their findings to the court within the two-week period.
The controversy has also widened beyond the alleged “kill Accord” remark, with Olajengbesi threatening legal action against the senator over separate comments allegedly made during television interviews.
In a letter dated August 12, Olajengbesi’s lawyer, Hammed Lasisi, demanded that Fadahunsi retract statements allegedly made during interviews on Viable TV and Channels Television’s Politics Today.
According to the lawyer, Fadahunsi allegedly accused Olajengbesi of sponsoring thugs and members of the Eiye and Aye cult groups. Olajengbesi denied the allegations, describing them as false and defamatory, and argued that the statements had damaged his reputation as a legal practitioner, public figure and candidate for elective office.
The lawyer further argued that linking Olajengbesi to cult groups and acts of terror amounted to imputations of criminality. He therefore demanded a retraction of the statements on the same platforms where they were allegedly made, alongside an unequivocal public apology.
Olajengbesi gave Fadahunsi 24 hours to comply with the demand, warning that failure to do so would lead to a N10 billion lawsuit seeking general and aggravated damages over alleged defamation and injurious falsehood.
The court’s intervention comes as political tensions rise ahead of Saturday’s election, placing renewed focus on the responsibility of political actors and candidates to avoid statements capable of escalating violence or threatening the electoral process.
The police investigation will now be expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the disputed comments, examine the complaint filed before the court and determine whether any offence was committed.
The court order, however, is a directive for investigation and does not constitute a finding of guilt against Fadahunsi. Any further legal action will depend on the outcome of the police investigation and subsequent proceedings.
As the police begin the two-week investigation, the controversy surrounding Fadahunsi adds to a series of political disputes and allegations that have emerged in the final days before the Osun governorship election.
