Peter Obi sues activist Deji Adeyanju for ₦1.5 billion over alleged defamatory social media posts.

Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has filed a ₦1.5 billion lawsuit against human rights activist Deji Adeyanju, accusing him of making false and defamatory statements on social media.

CBI News reports that the suit, filed at the Anambra State High Court in Onitsha, claims that Adeyanju’s posts were “false, baseless, unfounded, malicious, reckless, scandalous, and defamatory.”

Obi is asking the court to compel Adeyanju to tender an unreserved apology to him both on social media and in three national newspapers, and to delete all offensive publications from his verified accounts on X, Facebook, and Instagram.

Part of the court document reads: “An order compelling the Defendant to immediately retract and delete from all his social media platforms… 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.”

CBI News also reports that Obi seeks an order of perpetual injunction restraining Adeyanju from making further defamatory statements against him.

The Labour Party chieftain is demanding ₦500 million in aggravated damages and ₦1 billion in general damages, claiming Adeyanju’s comments were deliberately aimed at disparaging and ridiculing him before Nigerians and the international community.