Abuja-based lawyer, Tomiwa Olasiyan, has filed a ₦405 million lawsuit against the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its National Chairman at the Federal High Court, accusing the party of copyright infringement and political misrepresentation for allegedly posting his 2014 article without permission and falsely presenting him as its reporter.
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The suit, filed under Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CV/2025, stems from Olasiyan’s discovery in June 2025 nearly a decade after the fact that the APC had published his article titled “Let Buhari Do It This Time” on its official Facebook page (@OfficialAPC) on December 24, 2014. Olasiyan, a legal practitioner of nine years’ standing and a passionate writer since his university days, claims he submitted the piece exclusively to Daily Sun and Nigerian Tribune newspapers, where it appeared as editorial opinions on December 23, 2014, and January 12, 2015, respectively.
According to the affidavit in support of the motion, Olasiyan, then a law undergraduate at Obafemi Awolowo University, wrote the article out of personal passion, aiming to analyze Nigeria’s socio-political landscape ahead of the 2015 presidential election. He emphasized that he has “never had any ties with any political party whether in Nigeria or outside the country.” Yet, the APC’s post allegedly tagged him as “Our Reporter,” creating the false impression that he was affiliated with the party or serving as a campaign worker.
The unauthorized publication, Olasiyan argues, not only infringed on his copyright but also tarnished his reputation by wrongfully associating him with the ruling party. He contends that the post commercially benefited the APC, as it became a “rallying call” used in social media campaigns for then-candidate Muhammadu Buhari, who won the election months later — just as the article had predicted. To date, the Facebook post has garnered 56 likes, 12 comments, and 23 shares, underscoring its reach and impact.
In his motion on notice, dated September 27, 2025, and supported by an affidavit sworn on September 30, 2025, Olasiyan seeks an interlocutory injunction to prevent the respondents from deleting or manipulating the evidence on the APC’s Facebook page pending the hearing of the substantive suit. He describes the article as “electronic evidence” that the defendants could “unscrupulously delete and feign ignorance,” urging the court to maintain the status quo to avoid irreparable damage.
The full reliefs sought in the writ of summons and statement of claim include:
- A declaration affirming Olasiyan’s copyright ownership of the article.
- A perpetual injunction restraining the APC from further using, reproducing, or distributing the work.
- An order compelling the APC to issue a public apology in two national newspapers.
- ₦400 million in general damages for copyright infringement, reputational harm, and unjust enrichment.
- ₦5 million in costs for legal fees.
The APC, registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and currently Nigeria’s ruling party, is the first respondent. The second respondent, the National Chairman, serves as the party’s administrative head. As of now, the APC has not issued a public response to the allegations.
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The case is assigned to Federal High Court 9 in Abuja, with the next hearing scheduled for December 2, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. Olasiyan is represented by Shaibu Enemona Gabriel & Co., located at No. 5 Justice Clara Ogunbiyi Street, Asokoro, FCT-Abuja.
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