Abimbola Osundairo Testified Jussie Smollett Recruited Him and His Brother to Stage Attack

As the third day of Jussie Smollett’s trial got underway on Wednesday, one of the men that allegedly help stage the attack against the “Empire” actor took the stand, testifying for the state. 

Abimbola “Bola” Osundairo, 28, testified that Smollett recruited him and his brother to carry out a staged hate crime attack against the actor back in 2019. 

Testifying for four hours, Osundairo told the court he met Smollett while working as an extra on the set of “Empire.” The two “became very good friends,” and Osundairo called Smollett his “brother.”

Smollett was reportedly unhappy after the studio received a letter in the mail targeting him. He didn’t like the way the studio handled the threat.

The actor then approached the Osundairo brothers, giving them money to buy supplies and telling them what to say during the attack. 

He asked them to use racial and homophobic slurs to reference the show, and “MAGA.” Osundairo said, “He wanted me to do the punches specifically because he trusted me.”

Osundairo said he agreed to the plan because he felt indebted to Smollett. He said the actor helped get him promoted from an extra to a stand-in role on the show.

The other brother is scheduled to testify later in the trial. He was also recruited on the set of “Empire.”

Smollett was charged last year with six counts of disorderly conduct for lying to police. He denies that the attack was planned.