Peter Obi, former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), has filed a N1.5 billion lawsuit against Deji Adeyanju, a human rights activist, accusing him of making defamatory and malicious statements on social media.
The suit, lodged at the state high court in Onitsha, Anambra State, seeks a judicial declaration that the statements allegedly made by Adeyanju against Obi were “false, baseless, unfounded, malicious, reckless, scandalous, and defamatory.” The former governor of Anambra State argues that the comments circulated through various social media platforms have caused significant harm to his personal and political reputation.
Obi is asking the court to compel Adeyanju to issue an unreserved public apology across his social media accounts and publish the same in three national newspapers.
“AN ORDER compelling the Defendant to immediately retract and delete from all his social media platforms, including but not limited to his ‘X’ handle @adeyanjudeji, his verified Facebook account ‘Adeyanju Deji,’ Instagram account @AdeyanjuDeji and any other online platforms or sites, all false and malicious publications describing the Plaintiff with derogatory labels (including ‘leader of a mob,’ ‘religious bigot,’ ‘fraud,’ ‘scum,’ ‘political fraud,’ ‘political prostitute’), allegations of financial misconduct, dishonesty, or abuse of office, which have harmed the Plaintiff’s personal, political, and professional reputation,” part of the court document reads.
He is also seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining Adeyanju or any of his associates from making further statements that could tarnish his image.
Obi is claiming N500 million in aggravated and/or exemplary damages, accusing Adeyanju of a “reckless, malicious and persistent course of conduct” aimed at ridiculing him before Nigerians and the international community. He is further seeking N1 billion in general damages for emotional distress and reputational injury allegedly caused by the activist’s posts.
“GENERAL DAMAGES in the sum of N1,000,000,000.00 (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,” the suit states.
The case adds a new layer to the increasingly tense political discourse on social media, where high-profile figures and activists frequently clash over allegations, reputation, and influence.
