Jussie Smollett’s attorney alleges star prosecution witness sought $2M from actor – Chicago Sun-Times
A defense lawyer said Abimbola Osundairo, who Smollett allegedly recruited for the 2019 attack, asked for the huge payout in exchange for him telling police the actor didn’t plan the hoax.
Testimony from brothers Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo closed out the prosecution case against Jussie Smollett on Thursday, the fourth day of the former “Empire” star’s trial for lying to police about a hate crime assault near his downtown apartment.
The pair were the lynchpins in the case against Smollett, who was charged with making false reports to police soon after the Osundairos confessed they had been hired to stage the attack in a publicity stunt masterminded by the actor.
Defense lawyer Shay Allen peppered Abimbola Osundario with questions about alleged attempts to profit from his ties to Smollett, including shopping for book deals and seeking to be paid for interviews. Lastly, Allen asked if he had asked the actor for $1 million each for him and his brother to either not testify or recant their statements and say that Smollett had not been involved at all.
Allen also sought to characterize Abimbola Osundairo’s relationship with Smollett as more than friendship. Under questioning by Allen, Abimbola Osundairo admitted he and the openly gay Smollett had gone several times to a bathhouse in the Boystown neighborhood, though he said he did not know if the establishment catered to gay men.
“You didn’t see the big rainbow flag?” Allen said, noting that gay pornographic movies also were playing on a television near the entrance.
