2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has slammed a N1.5 billion lawsuit against a popular activist and lawyer Deji Adeyanju over alleged defamation.
The activist confirmed the development in a post on his X page on Tuesday, saying Obi dragged him to court in Anambra State.
He wrote:
“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.”
In the suit filed at the High Court of Anambra State, Awka Judicial Division, Obi is demanding ₦1.5 billion in damages for what he described as malicious and defamatory publications on social media.
The suit reads in part:
“ENDORSEMENT TO BE MADE ON THE WRIT BEFORE ISSUE THEREOF:
WHEREOF, THE PLAINTIFF CLAIMS AGAINST THE DEFENDANT AS FOLLOWS:
A DECLARATION that all allegations made and published by the Defendant concerning the Plaintiff on the Defendant’s various social media platforms, including, without limitation, his “X” (formerly Twitter) handle @adeyanjudeji and his verified Facebook account “Adeyanju Deji”, Instagram account ”AdeyanjuDeji” are false, baseless, unfounded, malicious, reckless, scandalous, and defamatory of the Plaintiff.
AN ORDER compelling the Defendant, within seven (7) days of the judgment of this Honourable Court, to publish a full, unreserved and unequivocal apology to the Plaintiff on all the Defendant’s social media handles, in at least three widely circulated national daily newspapers in Nigeria, and on all television, online and print platforms (including Channels Television, its YouTube page, TVC News Nigeria, Arise News and any other outlet where the interview or publications appeared), expressly retracting the false and defamatory statements and acknowledging the injury caused to the Plaintiff’s reputation and public image.
AGGRAVATED AND/OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES in the sum of ₦500,000,000.00 (Five Hundred Million Naira) and GENERAL DAMAGES in the sum of ₦1,000,000,000.00 (One Billion Naira) against the Defendant, being compensation for the harm, ridicule, odium, emotional distress, and reputational injury suffered by the Plaintiff as a result of the Defendant’s defamatory publications.
Cost of litigation and professional fees incurred by the Plaintiff in instituting this suit.”
