Adedibu movie: family demands ₦500m as producer refuses to pull it

Updated 11:30 WAT, 15 October 2026: The seven-day window the producer gave the family ran out on or about 14 October, and no family response, lawsuit or YouTube complaint had been reported as of 15 October.

A new biopic, a week on YouTube and a ₦500 million bill. The family of the late Ibadan political strongman Lamidi Adedibu wants the new Adedibu movie taken off YouTube, an apology and ₦500 million in damages, and the producer has said no, Premium Times reported on Sunday, 11 October 2026.

Lawyers for Adedibu’s estate say Adedibu: Alagbara Ibadan was made without the family’s consent and paints him falsely. Lawyers for producer Seun Oloketuyi reply that every fact in the film is already in the public domain.

No court has ruled on any of it, and no suit had been reported as of 11:30am WAT on Sunday. The film is still online, and the dispute has turned a four-year-old Nollywood project into one of the week’s most argued-about releases.

What does the Adedibu family want?

The family wants the Adedibu movie removed everywhere, an on-screen apology and ₦500 million in aggravated damages for invasion of privacy, false light and harm to reputation, according to the demand letter from Blossom Chambers dated Monday, 5 October, which Premium Times has seen.

The letter also asks for clips and re-uploads to come down, for the raw footage and scripts to be kept, and for no further productions about Adedibu without the estate’s written consent. It wants a three-minute apology pinned on the YouTube channel for 30 days and another in the Nigerian Tribune within seven days.

The family objects to how the film shows Adedibu’s early years, private life and politics, including claims that he rigged elections through violence. Its lawyers say nobody interviewed relatives and that private photos and recordings were used without permission. They gave 48 hours and warned of a YouTube complaint, a police cybercrime petition and a ₦1 billion suit at the Oyo State High Court.

What did the producer say?

Oloketuyi’s lawyers, ASALAW LP, rejected both the takedown and the money in a reply dated Wednesday, 7 October. They argued that the letter named no false statement or timestamp, that the film shares no addresses or medical records, and that relatives cannot sue for defamation of someone who has died unless the words refer to them.

They gave the family seven days to point to the scenes it disputes, with evidence, and said a properly backed complaint would get a fair hearing. If YouTube removes the film, they said, they will file a counter-notice and seek compensation. In a separate public notice, Oloketuyi’s company, Ultimate Communications, called the film a tribute and denied asking anyone for money to make it.

How did the Adedibu movie get here?

The project is older than most people arguing about it online realise. Here is the trail, from GistMatrix’s own check of the record:

• 11 June 2008: Adedibu, the Ibadan PDP kingmaker, dies at University College Hospital, Ibadan.
• May 2022: Oloketuyi, founder of the Best of Nollywood Awards, announces the biopic after filming wraps in Ibadan, with veteran actor Lere Paimo as Adedibu and a July 2022 release planned, Within Nigeria reported.
• 4 October 2026: the film is billed to premiere on the LibraTv YouTube channel; the lawyers’ letters refer to a video posted on 3 October, Premium Times reported.
• 5 and 7 October: the family’s demand letter, then the producer’s reply.
• 8 October: the National Film and Video Censors Board issues certificate No. 061286 and rates the film 15.

That censors’ rating only decides who may watch. It does not settle whether the film is accurate or who owns the material in it, a point Premium Times also made.

How many people have watched it?

When GistMatrix checked at about 11:30am WAT on Sunday, 11 October, the LibraTv upload showed 678,000 views, on a channel with 949,000 subscribers. A YouTube search for the title also turned up other channels carrying videos called Adedibu and Adedibu 2, the kind of copies the family’s letter wants removed too.

The cast is heavy on Yoruba-film favourites: Lere Paimo, Segun Arinze, Afeez Oyetoro (Saka), Kayode Olaiya (Aderupoko), Adekola Tijani, Taiwo Ibikunle, Anike Ami and Shushu Abubakar, directed by Abiodun Jimoh. It is free to watch on YouTube in Nigeria.

What happens next

The seven-day window the producer’s lawyers gave the family to list the disputed scenes ran out on or about Wednesday, 14 October, counting from the 7 October reply. As of 11:30am WAT on Thursday, 15 October, no response from the family, court filing or YouTube complaint had been reported, and the film was still up on YouTube.

FAQ

Where can I watch the Adedibu movie?
As of Sunday, 11 October 2026, Adedibu: Alagbara Ibadan was free on the LibraTv YouTube channel, where it was billed to premiere on 4 October.

Who plays Adedibu in the movie?
Veteran Yoruba actor Lere Paimo plays Lamidi Adedibu. Abiodun Jimoh directed and Seun Oloketuyi produced.

Has the family gone to court?
Not as of Sunday morning. Its lawyers have threatened a ₦1 billion suit at the Oyo State High Court, and the producer’s lawyers say they will defend the film.

Should families get a say in biopics about public figures? Tell us in the comments.

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