“My Mother Begged Me to Withdraw” — Fayose Reveals Why He Dropped Suit Against Olayinka
By Passman Akpos
A fresh twist has emerged in the ongoing legal dispute between social commentator Prince Isaac Owolabi Fayose and media aide Lere Olayinka, as Fayose has approached the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja seeking the relisting of a defamation suit he previously withdrew.
The renewed controversy erupted after Olayinka took to social media to mock Fayose over the withdrawal of the case, claiming the businessman had abandoned his suit and that the court subsequently dismissed it.
In a series of posts, Olayinka described Fayose as a “primary school dropout” and questioned his educational background while accusing him of lacking an understanding of legal procedures.
According to Olayinka, Fayose voluntarily withdrew his defamation suit, while Olayinka’s own counterclaim against Fayose remains active and has already progressed to the evidence stage.
However, court documents filed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory suggest a different narrative.
In a Motion on Notice filed under Suit No. FCT/HC/GAR/CV/157/2025, Fayose is asking the court to relist the matter, arguing that he was allegedly deceived into withdrawing the case
The application states that the original suit was discontinued and struck out on November 27, 2025, and seeks an order restoring it to the court’s docket.
An affidavit filed in support of the application by legal practitioner Odomadehi Ehimen Oluwaseyi, counsel to Fayose, claims that the withdrawal followed interventions by Fayose’s mother, who reportedly urged both parties to end the dispute because of their longstanding family and political relationship.
According to the affidavit, Fayose was allegedly assured that both sides would withdraw their respective claims and counterclaims. The document further states that Fayose later discovered Olayinka had continued with his counterclaim despite the withdrawal of the original suit.
The affidavit alleges that Fayose felt “deceived” and is now seeking an opportunity to pursue his claims before the court.
Reacting to Olayinka’s social media comments, Fayose insisted that he withdrew the case out of respect for his mother’s wishes and not because of any weakness in his claims.
“My mother begged me on your behalf to withdraw the matter from court, and because I love my mother I did. When I noticed that you were desperate for my money, I went back to court to restart the case,” Fayose wrote.
The businessman also rejected Olayinka’s description of him as a school dropout, insisting that he attended educational institutions in Ireland and challenging his rival’s remarks about his academic history.
The online exchange has sparked intense reactions on social media, with supporters of both men trading insults and debating the merits of the case.
Legal observers say the court’s decision on Fayose’s application could determine whether the original defamation suit returns for hearing alongside Olayinka’s counterclaim.
As the public feud continues to play out online, attention now turns to the Abuja High Court, where a judge will ultimately decide whether the case should be relisted and heard on its merits.
The matter remains pending before the court.
