Peter Obi Sues Deji Adeyanju, Demands N1.5 Billion in Damages for Defamation

The former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has formally instituted a defamation lawsuit against political activist and lawyer, Deji Adeyanju. 

Obi filed the case at an Anambra State High Court in Onitsha, accusing Adeyanju of repeatedly publishing false, scandalous, reckless, and malicious statements against him across his social media platforms.

The lawsuit seeks substantial financial and public redress from the activist.

 Specifically, Peter Obi is demanding a total of N1.5 billion in damages, broken down as N1 billion in general damages and N500 million in exemplary damages.

 Furthermore, the former Anambra State Governor is asking the court to compel Adeyanju to issue a full and unreserved apology.

In the preliminary notice that preceded the formal suit, Obi’s legal team accused Adeyanju of making statements calculated to injure the former governor’s reputation before the Nigerian public and the international community.

 Search results indicate that some of the defamatory remarks cited included accusations that Obi is a religious bigot, a fraud, a scum, a thief, and that he had allegedly diverted state funds into his family business during his time as governor.

 Adeyanju also previously alleged that Obi had once attempted to offer him money as a “thank you.”

Reacting to the lawsuit, Deji Adeyanju expressed a mix of happiness and relief that Peter Obi had followed through on his threat of legal action.

In a message shared with publicly, Adeyanju stated: “Finally, Peter Obi has sued me. I am actually happy and relieved that he didn’t chicken out in the end.”

He also noted the choice of venue for the legal battle, adding: “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.” Adeyanju had previously scoffed at Obi’s threat of legal action, saying he “can’t wait to meet him in court.”