Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate and former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, has officially instituted a ₦1.5 billion defamation suit against Abuja-based activist and rights lawyer, Mr. Deji Adeyanju.
Mr. Obi instituted the suit at the High Court of Anambra State sitting in Onitsha.
In the suit, marked No. 0/254/25, Obi, as the plaintiff, 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, 2025, and addressed to Mr. Adeyanju of D4 Makuru Close, Wuse II, Abuja, commands him to enter appearance within forty-two (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.
He 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.
Mr. 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 Labour Party presidential candidate also wants 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 ₦500 million for what he described as “reckless and malicious” defamation.
Mr. Obi is also seeking general damages of ₦1 billion for the reputational harm, ridicule, and emotional distress allegedly caused by Mr. Adeyanju’s posts and utterances.
The former Anambra governor also wants the cost of litigation and professional fees incurred in instituting the suit, with an additional request for 18% interest per annum on the judgment sum until liquidation by the defendant.
Reacting to the development, Mr. Deji Adeyanju confirmed receipt of the court summons in a Facebook post on Friday.
“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.
The case, which has already generated intense interest on social media, is expected to test the limits of online speech, defamation law, and the boundaries of political criticism in Nigeria.
No date has yet been fixed for hearing.
Background
Mr. Obi had, in August, threatened to drag the lawyer to court over alleged defamation, escalating a dispute that began after the latter sued Mr. Obi’s female aide, Serah Ibrahim, for defaming his wife.
Mr. Obi’s lawyers, Ejesimen & Co Madiba Chambers, cited Mr. Adeyanju’s long-standing criticisms of Mr. Obi, including an earlier account the activist shared about a private meeting with the former governor.
“He tried to give me money and called it thank you for coming. It’s 100% true,” Mr. Adeyanju had claimed in a previous post, insisting the gesture was an attempt to buy his loyalty.
The notice also referenced a more recent post made on August 21, in which Mr. Adeyanju accused Mr. Obi of investing state funds in a company in which his family allegedly had interests during his time in office.
The lawyer had, in reaction to the demand notice, mocked the legal threat in a Facebook post.
“Just got this letter from Peter Obi, the religious bigot, demanding a retraction from me. I laughed so hard. I can’t wait to meet him in court finally. A fraud parading himself as a messiah,” he wrote.
The activist added that he had earlier sued Miss Ibrahim, accusing her of calling his wife an “OnlyFans hoe” and publishing “unprintable things” about her after he criticized Mr. Obi online.
“We served his little errand girl, Serah, a letter to retract all her defamatory publications on Monday against my wife, and she ran to the leader of the mob for help,” Mr. Adeyanju said.
“Obi cannot save her, and I am ready for him in court 100%. Super happy he sent that letter. It proves what we have always suspected: he is the one sending them to defame people online because they are his aides.”
In her defense, Miss Ibrahim claimed she only mocked Mrs. Adeyanju for posting suggestive photos online but did not call her a prostitute.
“I only said she constantly posts pics of butt, the kind you’d typically see on OnlyFans wannabe,” she said.
“I didn’t say she’s a whore. But if he wants to call his wife a whore, who am I to disagree?”
Mr. Adeyanju, a consistent critic of Mr. Obi, has long dismissed the Labour Party leader’s political ambitions, insisting that he will never become Nigeria’s president.
He has also clashed repeatedly with Mr. Obi’s supporters, known as Obidients, over his online commentaries.
