Peter Obi sues Deji Adeyanju for ‘defamation’

The 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has instituted a N1.5 billion defamation suit against Abuja-based rights activist and lawyer, Deji Adeyanju.

According to the court documents shared by Deji, the lawsuit was instituted at the High Court of Anambra State sitting in Onitsha.

Recall that the former governor had in August threatened to take a legal action against the lawyer over alleged defamation.  In a letter sent to Adeyanju in August, Obi’s lawyer, Alex Ejesieme (SAN), accused the activist of spreading false and malicious statements against his client, portraying him as corrupt, fraudulent, and a religious bigot. According to Obi’s legal team, Adeyanju’s posts, which date back to 2022, sought to tarnish Obi’s reputation both locally and internationally.

Some of the claims included allegations that Obi diverted Anambra State funds into family businesses, attempted to bribe Adeyanju after a private meeting, and used religion to manipulate voters during the 2023 presidential campaign.

The lawyers described Adeyanju’s claims as “false, malicious, and contrived,” insisting there was no truth in them.

In the lawsuit filed, Obi is seeking a series of declaratory and injunctive reliefs against Adeyanju for allegedly publishing “false, baseless, unfounded, malicious, reckless, scandalous, and defamatory” statements against him across multiple social media platforms.

The writ of summons, issued on October 3 and addressed to Adeyanju, asked him to enter an appearance within 42 days of service or risk judgment being entered in default. According to the endorsement on the writ, Obi is seeking a declaration that Adeyanju’s various publications on his verified social media handles, including X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram, are defamatory and damaging to his reputation.

The ex-governor is also praying the court for an order compelling the lawyer to publish a full, unreserved apology to him 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 is also seeking a retraction and deletion of all defamatory posts labeling him as a “religious bigot,” “fraud,” “political prostitute,” “scum,” and other disparaging terms.

The former LP presidential candidate is also seeking a perpetual injunction restraining Adeyanju from further making or publishing any defamatory material against him.

He is also asking the court to award aggravated or exemplary damages of N500 million for what he described as “reckless and malicious” defamation. The former governor is also seeking general damages of N1 billion for the reputational harm, ridicule, and emotional distress allegedly caused by Adeyanju’s posts and utterances.

Obi also asked the court to award the cost of litigation and professional fees incurred in instituting the suit, to Adeyanju with an additional request for 18 per cent interest per annum on the judgment sum until liquidation paid by the defendant.

In a post shared on his X handle, Adeyanju confirmed receipt of the court summons.

“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,” he wrote.