Peter Obi has sued Deji Adeyanju for ₦1.5 billion over defamatory statements.
NaijaOnPoint Nigeria reports that Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has filed a ₦1.5 billion defamation lawsuit against human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju, over what he described as false and malicious statements made against him on social media.
In the suit, filed before the Anambra State High Court in Onitsha, Obi accused Adeyanju of publishing baseless, reckless, and scandalous remarks that damaged his personal and political reputation.
According to court documents obtained by reporters, Obi is seeking several reliefs, including a public apology and financial damages.
The document reads in part:
“An order compelling the Defendant to immediately retract and delete from all his social media platforms, including but not limited to X (formerly Twitter) handle @adeyanjudeji, his verified Facebook page ‘Adeyanju Deji,’ and Instagram account @AdeyanjuDeji, all false and malicious publications describing the Plaintiff with derogatory labels such as ‘leader of a mob,’ ‘religious bigot,’ ‘fraud,’ ‘political prostitute,’ and other defamatory statements alleging financial misconduct and dishonesty.”
Obi also asked the court for a perpetual injunction restraining Adeyanju and his agents from further publishing or broadcasting any defamatory material against him.
Furthermore, the former Anambra State governor is demanding ₦500 million in aggravated and exemplary damages and ₦1 billion in general damages for the emotional distress and reputational harm caused by the publications.
The suit also seeks an order compelling Adeyanju to publish a formal apology on all his social media platforms and in three national newspapers.
Obi’s legal action marks one of the most high-profile defamation cases involving a Nigerian politician and a prominent activist in recent times.