Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate and former governor of Anambra State, has filed a ₦1.5 billion defamation lawsuit against Abuja-based activist and lawyer Deji Adeyanju. The case was instituted at the High Court of Anambra State in Onitsha.
This legal move follows months of public tension between the two men. In August, Obi had threatened legal action against Adeyanju over what he described as a series of defamatory statements made across social media platforms. This came shortly after Adeyanju filed a suit against one of Obi’s aides, Serah Ibrahim, accusing her of defaming his wife.
Adeyanju, a vocal critic of Obi, has been known for consistently dismissing the former governor’s presidential ambitions and clashing with his supporters, popularly known as “Obidients,” on various online platforms.
In his suit, Obi is accusing Adeyanju of publishing what he terms false, malicious, and damaging content on social media, including platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram. He is seeking several reliefs, including a declaration that the posts in question are defamatory, a public apology, and a retraction published both online and in at least three national newspapers, as well as on major TV stations like Channels TV, Arise News, and TVC News.
The court documents also include a request for a perpetual injunction preventing Adeyanju from making further defamatory statements, as well as financial compensation. Obi is demanding ₦1 billion in general damages for reputational harm and emotional distress, ₦500 million in aggravated damages, and coverage of legal costs, plus 18 percent annual interest on the judgment sum until it is fully paid.
The writ of summons, dated October 3, directs Adeyanju to respond within 42 days or risk a default judgment.
Reacting on Facebook, Adeyanju confirmed he had been served and expressed readiness to face the case in court. He noted the decision to file in Anambra despite Obi frequently being in Abuja, and stated that he intends to prove his claims in court.
The suit has attracted significant public attention and is expected to raise broader questions about the limits of online speech, political criticism, and the legal boundaries of defamation in Nigeria.
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