Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate for the Labour Party and former Governor of Anambra State, has filed a defamation lawsuit seeking N1.5 billion in damages against Deji Adeyanju, a human rights advocate and lawyer based in Abuja.
The legal action was commenced at the High Court of Anambra State, sitting in Onitsha, as revealed by court documents shared by Adeyanju himself.
Earlier in August, Obi had warned Adeyanju of impending legal proceedings over accusations he deemed defamatory. Obi’s legal representative, Senior Advocate Alex Ejesieme, accused Adeyanju of disseminating false and damaging claims that painted Obi as corrupt, deceitful, and intolerant in religious matters. These allegations, which date back to 2022, were said to have been spread with the intent to harm Obi’s reputation both within Nigeria and internationally.
Among the contentious assertions were claims that Obi misappropriated state funds for personal family enterprises, attempted to bribe Adeyanju following a private discussion, and exploited religious sentiments to influence voters during the 2023 presidential election.
Obi’s legal team categorically rejected these accusations, labeling them as baseless, malicious fabrications without any factual foundation.
In the filed suit, Obi is requesting the court to grant several remedies, including declarations and injunctions, against Adeyanju for publishing what he describes as “false, unfounded, reckless, and defamatory” statements across various social media platforms.
The summons, dated October 3, requires Adeyanju to respond within 42 days of service to avoid a default judgment. The suit demands a formal declaration that Adeyanju’s posts on his verified accounts on platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram have defamed Obi and caused reputational damage.
Additionally, Obi seeks a court order compelling Adeyanju to issue a comprehensive and unconditional public apology on all his social media channels, as well as in at least three national newspapers and prominent broadcast outlets including Channels TV, TVC News, and Arise News.
Obi is also asking for the removal and retraction of all posts that label him with derogatory terms such as “religious bigot,” “fraud,” “political prostitute,” and “scum.”
The former governor is pursuing a permanent injunction to prevent Adeyanju from making further defamatory statements about him.
Furthermore, Obi is seeking aggravated damages amounting to N500 million for what he describes as “reckless and malicious” defamation, alongside general damages of N1 billion to compensate for the harm to his reputation, public humiliation, and emotional distress caused by Adeyanju’s statements.
The suit also requests that Adeyanju be ordered to cover all legal costs and professional fees incurred by Obi, with an additional 18% annual interest on the judgment sum until full payment is made.
Responding on his X account, Adeyanju acknowledged receiving the court summons and expressed his readiness to contest the allegations.
“Peter Obi has finally taken me to court. I’m actually relieved he didn’t back down. Interestingly, he chose to file the case in Anambra State, even though he spends most of his time in Abuja where I live. No worries, we move forward. I will demonstrate in court that Peter Obi is corrupt, a bigot, and a fraud. Stay tuned for the drama,” he stated.
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