The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ilesa Branch, has vehemently rejected the circulation of misleading media reports about a supposed court ruling that ordered one Rhoda Adu to pay N150,000 in damages to her boyfriend, Olapitan Sola. The case, which allegedly involved Adu’s failure to visit Sola after collecting a transport fare of N3,000, was widely circulated by several news outlets recently, but the NBA has swiftly corrected these claims as false and baseless.
In a public statement released on Thursday, Raymond Oki, Esq., representing the Ilesa branch of the NBA, addressed the issue head-on, asserting that no such ruling exists in the Ilesa Magisterial District Court.
“We are deeply concerned by the misinformation that has been allowed to spread without verification,” Oki said, emphasizing that the story was a fabrication. “There is no Magistrate in Ilesa by the name Akogun Oludare, and no case of this nature has ever been brought before the Ilesa Magistrate Court.”
The statement went on to further discredit the claims, noting that the public was being misled by false reports that suggested a court had ruled in favor of emotional distress damages in a private matter. “We must set the record straight,” Oki continued. “This story is completely fabricated, and the NBA is committed to ensuring that the truth prevails in this matter.”
The controversy began when news outlets began reporting the case, claiming that Adu had been ordered to pay N150,000 to Sola as compensation for emotional distress. The alleged cause of the claim was Adu’s failure to fulfill a personal commitment to visit Sola after accepting a transport fare of N3,000 from him. The reports quickly gained traction online, with many outlets circulating the story without corroborating the facts.
According to Oki, such stories have the potential to tarnish the image of the judiciary and confuse the public about the proper functions of the courts. “This case is a clear example of how misinformation can harm the integrity of the legal system,” he said. “It is important for media houses and the public to verify facts before publishing, especially when it concerns sensitive legal matters.”
In response to the controversy, the NBA issued a formal request to all media outlets to retract the misleading information and issue clarifications to their audiences. The statement also urged the media to exercise greater caution when handling stories related to the judiciary and legal proceedings.
“The NBA is fully committed to ensuring that our legal system is respected and that accurate information is disseminated to the public,” Oki added.
As of now, there has been no official response from the alleged parties involved—Rhoda Adu or Olapitan Sola—in the supposed case. However, legal experts have noted that personal disputes of this nature, involving transport fares or failed personal visits, would unlikely be subject to legal action in the manner depicted by the misleading reports.
Legal experts also pointed out that Nigerian courts typically do not entertain cases based on such private grievances, especially those that involve emotional distress claims over personal commitments. “While emotional distress is a recognized cause for damages in some legal systems, it would require a much more substantial claim,” said one legal analyst. “A failure to visit someone after accepting transport fare would not qualify as such a claim under Nigerian law.”
Meanwhile, social media users have reacted in various ways to the debunked story, with some expressing concern about the speed with which fake news can spread. “This is a perfect example of how unchecked stories can go viral,” said a concerned user on Twitter. “We need to be more careful about where we get our information from.”
Others have questioned the motivations behind the spread of such falsehoods, suggesting that it may have been a deliberate attempt to tarnish the reputation of the judiciary or to sensationalize trivial matters. “It’s sad that such a silly story could even gain traction,” another user wrote. “But it’s also a wake-up call for all of us to think critically about the news we consume.”
The NBA has urged Nigerians to always rely on credible sources for information and to avoid contributing to the spread of rumors or unfounded claims. “In today’s world, misinformation can spread faster than the truth,” Oki concluded. “We must all do our part to ensure that the legal system and the media are not used as tools for false narratives.”
