The 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate and former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, has filed a ₦1.5 billion defamation suit against Abuja-based lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju.
According to court documents shared by Adeyanju, the suit was filed at the High Court of Anambra State, sitting in Onitsha.
Recall that in August, Obi’s legal team had threatened to take legal action against Adeyanju over alleged defamatory remarks. In a letter signed by Obi’s counsel, Alex Ejesieme (SAN), the activist was accused of spreading false and malicious statements portraying the former governor as corrupt, fraudulent, and a religious bigot. The legal team claimed Adeyanju’s social media posts, dating as far back as 2022, were aimed at tarnishing Obi’s reputation locally and internationally.
Some of Adeyanju’s alleged claims included accusations that Obi diverted Anambra State funds into family businesses, attempted to bribe him during a private meeting, and exploited religion to manipulate voters during the 2023 presidential election. Obi’s lawyers described these claims as “false, malicious, and contrived.”
In the suit, Obi is seeking several declaratory and injunctive reliefs, accusing Adeyanju of publishing “false, baseless, unfounded, malicious, reckless, scandalous, and defamatory” statements across multiple social media platforms.
The writ of summons, issued on October 3, directed Adeyanju to enter an appearance within 42 days or risk judgment being entered in default. Obi is seeking a declaration that Adeyanju’s posts on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram are defamatory and injurious to his reputation.
He is also asking the court to compel Adeyanju to issue a full, unreserved apology on all his social media handles and in at least three national newspapers, as well as on major television and online platforms such as Channels TV, TVC News, and Arise News.
Obi further seeks an order for the retraction and deletion of all defamatory posts in which he was labeled a “religious bigot,” “fraud,” “political prostitute,” “scum,” and other disparaging terms.
Additionally, the former governor is requesting a perpetual injunction restraining Adeyanju from publishing any further defamatory material against him.
Obi is also demanding ₦500 million as aggravated or exemplary damages for what he described as “reckless and malicious” defamation, and ₦1 billion as general damages for reputational harm, ridicule, and emotional distress.
He further urged the court to order Adeyanju to pay the cost of litigation and professional fees incurred in the suit, along with 18% annual interest on the judgment sum until full payment.
Reacting to the development, Adeyanju confirmed in a post on his X handle that he had received the court summons.
“Finally, Peter Obi has sued me. I’m actually happy and relieved that he didn’t chicken out in the end. Interestingly, he dragged me all the way to Anambra State, even though he’s almost always in Abuja where I reside. But no shaking, we move. I will prove in court that Peter Obi is corrupt, a bigot, and a fraud. You will all be entertained, I promise,” he wrote.
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