The 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has dragged rights activist and lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, to court.
The legal action followed Adeyanju’s claim that Obi is corrupt, alleging that the former Anambra governor perpetrated financial fraud while in the saddle of the state.
He also accused Obi of political prostitution, with both claims creating sourness between him and Obidients online, and sparking bitter exchange.
A saga, one of its episode is Obi’s aide, Serah Ibrahim’s description of Adeyanju’s wife as “OnlyFans hoe”, a social media comment the lawyer viewed as calling his partner a prostitute and dragged Miss Ibrahim to court.
The latest, is that the ex-governor has instituted a N1.5 billion defamation suit against the Abuja-based lawyer.
Obi instituted the suit at the High Court of Anambra State sitting in Onitsha.
In his suit, 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 of D4 Makuru Close, Wuse II, Abuja, 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.
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.
Obi is also seeking general damages of N1 billion for the reputational harm, ridicule, and emotional distress allegedly caused by 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 per cent interest per annum on the judgment sum until liquidation paid by the defendant.
