Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has filed a ₦60 billion defamation lawsuit against political commentator Reno Omokri. The suit accuses Omokri of making false and damaging statements that allegedly linked Kanu and IPOB to acts of violence and terrorism in Nigeria’s South-east region.
Filed on July 31 at the Enugu State High Court, the legal action was brought by Kanu on behalf of both himself and IPOB. Omokri is named as the sole defendant in the case.
According to court filings obtained by Premium Times, Kanu—who is currently on trial for terrorism at the Federal High Court in Abuja—alleges that Omokri made defamatory claims in a July 6, 2025 post on his X (formerly Twitter) account. In the post, Omokri allegedly accused Kanu and IPOB of being responsible for the killings of security personnel and for sponsoring the activities of so-called “unknown gunmen” in the region. He also reportedly characterized IPOB’s security wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), as a terrorist group.
Through his legal counsel, P.N. Agazie, Kanu said the statements were not only false and baseless but also prejudicial to his ongoing trial. He argued that the claims portrayed him as a criminal and terrorist, damaging his reputation and subjecting him to public ridicule, contempt, and hatred.
Kanu noted that a pre-litigation notice was served on Omokri on July 10, 2025, demanding a retraction, public apology in two national newspapers, and a written commitment to refrain from further publication of similar claims. The lawsuit was initiated after Omokri reportedly failed to respond.
“The defendant’s statements amount to a prejudicial commentary on ongoing legal proceedings and constitute contempt of court,” Kanu stated, adding that the remarks violate his right to a fair hearing and the constitutional presumption of innocence under Section 36(5) of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution (as amended).
In the suit, Kanu is seeking ₦50 billion in general damages for reputational harm and emotional trauma, as well as ₦10 billion in aggravated damages, which he claims are warranted due to the “malicious and reckless” nature of the publication.
He is also requesting the court to compel Omokri to issue a public apology and retraction—both in two national newspapers and on his X handle—within seven days of the court’s judgment. Additionally, he is asking for a perpetual injunction preventing Omokri, his agents, or associates from making or sharing similar defamatory content in the future.
As of now, the court has not scheduled a date for the hearing.
Kanu was extradited from Kenya to Nigeria in June 2021 under controversial circumstances and has remained in detention while facing terrorism-related charges. IPOB, which advocates for the secession of Biafra from Nigeria’s South-east and South-south regions, has repeatedly denied any involvement in violent attacks attributed to the group.
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