The 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate and former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, has filed a N1.5 billion defamation lawsuit against Abuja-based rights activist and lawyer Deji Adeyanju.
According to court documents shared by Adeyanju, the suit was filed at the High Court of Anambra State, sitting in Onitsha.
Earlier in August, Obi had threatened legal action against Adeyanju over alleged defamatory statements. In a letter sent by Obi’s lawyer, Alex Ejesieme (SAN), the activist was accused of spreading false and malicious claims portraying Obi as corrupt, fraudulent, and a religious bigot. Obi’s legal team stated that Adeyanju’s posts, dating back to 2022, aimed to damage Obi’s reputation both locally and internationally.
Among the allegations were claims that Obi diverted state funds to family businesses, attempted to bribe Adeyanju after a private meeting, and used religion to manipulate voters during the 2023 presidential election.
Obi’s lawyers described these accusations as “false, malicious, and contrived,” insisting they were baseless.
In the lawsuit, Obi is seeking various declaratory and injunctive reliefs against Adeyanju for publishing “false, baseless, unfounded, malicious, reckless, scandalous, and defamatory” statements about him on multiple social media platforms.
The writ of summons, issued on October 3 and addressed to Adeyanju, demands that he enter an appearance within 42 days or risk a default judgment. The suit seeks a declaration that Adeyanju’s posts on his verified social media accounts—X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram—are defamatory and damaging to Obi’s reputation.
Obi is also asking the court to compel Adeyanju to publish a full and unreserved apology on all his social media handles, in at least three national newspapers, and on major television and online platforms including Channels TV, TVC News, and Arise News.
Additionally, Obi wants all defamatory posts labeling him as a “religious bigot,” “fraud,” “political prostitute,” “scum,” and other disparaging terms to be retracted and deleted.
The former LP presidential candidate is seeking a perpetual injunction preventing Adeyanju from further publishing defamatory material against him.
He is also demanding aggravated or exemplary damages of N500 million for what he describes as “reckless and malicious” defamation, alongside general damages of N1 billion for reputational harm, ridicule, and emotional distress caused by Adeyanju’s posts.
Obi has further requested the court to order Adeyanju to pay the cost of litigation and professional fees, plus 18 percent interest per annum on the judgment sum until full payment is made.
In response, Adeyanju confirmed receipt of the summons in a post on his X account, saying:
“Finally, Peter Obi has sued me. I am 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 is 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.”
