Peter Obi Sues Deji Adeyanju For ₦1.5 Billion Over “Malicious Lies” On Social Media

Former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has filed a defamation lawsuit against human rights activist Deji Adeyanju, accusing him of making false, malicious, and damaging statements on social media.

In the suit lodged at the Anambra State High Court in Onitsha, Obi claims that Adeyanju’s posts were baseless, reckless, and intended to tarnish his image, both personally and politically.

The Labour Party chieftain is asking the court to compel Adeyanju to issue a public apology across his social media platforms and publish the same in three national newspapers.

Part of the court filing reads:

“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, verified Facebook account ‘Adeyanju Deji,’ Instagram account @AdeyanjuDeji, and any other online platforms, all false and malicious publications labeling the Plaintiff with derogatory terms such as ‘leader of a mob,’ ‘religious bigot,’ ‘fraud,’ ‘scum,’ ‘political fraud,’ and ‘political prostitute.’ These publications have caused significant harm to the Plaintiff’s personal, political, and professional reputation.”

Obi also seeks:

• A perpetual injunction restraining Adeyanju and his associates from making or circulating any further defamatory statements about him.

• ₦500 million in aggravated or exemplary damages for Adeyanju’s “reckless and malicious” conduct.

• ₦1 billion in general damages as compensation for the emotional distress, public ridicule, and reputational harm caused by the activist’s posts.